The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

A letter of appointment was sent all the way to Ningxia and reached Yang Yiqing.

When Yang Yiqing received the transfer order, he learned that he was going to be transferred to Liaodong to "governor Fushun, Jianzhou, Nuergandusi and other places", with the title of right deputy censor of the capital, and go to pacify the Jurchens.

The official position was improved compared to that of Youqiandu Yushi when he was the governor of Ningxia before him, but the promotion of this official position did not make him feel happy at all.

He was very depressed.

"The imperial court's will is really unpredictable." Zhang Xun was nearby, also surprised by this order, and didn't even know how to evaluate it.

Yang Yiqing tried his best to suppress the disappointment in his heart, and said in an indifferent tone: "Everywhere I go, I serve the imperial court. The Jurchen and other tribes are in chaos in Liaodong. Someone should really calm it down. The previous one was Xin Xin Bo, who also made great achievements in the battle with the Jurchen , why not?"

Zhang Xun could only say with a comforting smile: "That's right. I think that Uncle Xin Xin also experienced the Battle of Weininghai and was transferred there after gaining prestige. This shows that His Majesty attaches great importance to Yang Junmen."

Even Zhang Xun himself didn't believe this kind of thing.

"But I don't know who will take over as governor of Ningxia?" Zhang Xun asked again.

Yang Yiqing looked like he didn't want to answer, which meant he didn't know.

Zhang Xu said: "Then I don't know who was appointed as the commander-in-chief to assist Yang Junmen in going to Liaodong to fight against the Jurchens? Or maybe the imperial court asked Yang Junmen to serve as both a military officer and a commander-in-chief, like Uncle Xin Xin, to lead the troops with one hand? Military matters?"

Yang Yiqing immediately became even more depressed and said: "Initial information shows that the chief military officer seems to be Uncle Jianchang."

"what?"

This appointment also shocked Zhang Xun.

You can arrange whoever you want to go. Even if you find an ordinary soldier to temporarily serve as a general officer, it would be better than Zhang Yanling to go there, right?
If Liaodong Ping Nuzhen was a major military mission, and the emperor sent Yang Yiqing because he trusted his ability, then what was the reason for sending Zhang Yanling?Do you fully trust Zhang Yanling's abilities and are you ready to let him show off his talents?
Zhang He calmed down and reminded hurriedly: "Why don't Yang Junmen ask the imperial court for Cui Prince Consort to go to Liaodong to help you defeat the Jurchens? Doesn't Cui Prince Consort also need training in urgent need?"

Yang Yiqing shook his head and said: "Since Your Majesty has appointed Cui Prince-in-law as the deputy commander-in-chief of Ningxia, how can he be sent to another place for a while? No matter what the holy will of this matter is, I should still follow the decree and go to take office early, so as not to cause trouble to Liaodong." Waiting for the people to suffer."

"Then...thank you for your hard work." Zhang Xun was also thankful.

Fortunately, I was not sent to be your guard eunuch. Originally, Ningxia is far enough away from the mountains and mountains, but it is still better than the place in northern Liaoning.

That place was simply a bitter cold place, filled with miasma. I heard that whoever went there would get sick, and whoever went there would have difficulty coming back alive.

……

……

After Yang Yiqing received the transfer order, he immediately set off to the east without waiting for someone to replace him as governor.

Ningxia has just experienced war. Even if there is no governor in office, the generals below can basically handle the affairs at hand. However, Yang Yiqing seems to have no time to go to Liaodong. At this time, Yang Yiqing seems to need to use his own efforts to demonstrate his ability, and at the same time, he does not want to worry about it. Let the court suspect that he has any complaints in his heart.

Before Yang Yiqing went to Liaodong to take up his post, he would report to the Ministry of War in the capital, which meant that he would go to Liaodong only after receiving a formal appointment from the court.

It was just a matter of course.

But for Yang Yiqing, this seems to be a good time to have a good relationship in the capital. As for whether he will listen to the advice of Zhang Zhou, Minister of the Ministry of War, or visit the traditional civil servants and follow the opinions of the traditional civil servants after arriving in the capital, it all depends on His own choice.

On this day, Zhang Zhou went to the palace to see the emperor, actually to treat Zhu Youtang and his wife.

Zhu Youtang himself was ill, and Empress Zhang was also suffering from minor illnesses. The couple was in the Qianqing Palace and the other in the Kunning Palace. They both needed Zhang Zhou to diagnose and prescribe medicine.

Zhang Zhou went to Qianqing Palace first.

"Bingkuan, I have something to tell you. It's about Yongkang. She herself proposed that she want to marry one of Maoren's sisters to you. She can't say marry, she can only say that she wants to marry you. In this way, between you two There are in-laws soon."

Zhu Youtang seems to be acting as a matchmaker now.

Zhang Zhou asked: "Your Majesty, do you think it is necessary for me to marry you?"

Zhu Youtang sighed: "I don't think it's appropriate either. It seems like a marriage for the sake of marriage, which will make things difficult for you. Because of this, I didn't reply to Yongkang, and I felt that she was very utilitarian in this matter. Cui Our daughter is already engaged, so if you want to accept it, it’s not a big deal.”

Zhang Zhou knew what Zhu Youtang meant.

Originally, Empress Zhang also had an engagement, but the Zhang family regretted the engagement and sent her to select the crown princess, and she was chosen.

Later, for at least ten years, the relationship between Zhu Youtang and Empress Zhang was still very good, so maybe in the heart of the emperor, he did not take the marriage contract too seriously. Who said that the marriage determined by the family would be Will you definitely be able to achieve happiness?

I am a person who has personally experienced it, and I have proven with actual actions that "free love" is more reliable.

Zhang Zhou said: "Your Majesty, in fact, regarding Cui Prince Consort's title and military appointment, you do not need to accept my opinion. He has already obtained military merits and can serve the public. Even if he lacks experience, it is just a matter of staying in the army for a few more years to train. , why would you hurt the brother-sister relationship between you and the eldest princess just because of this matter?"

"Hey!"

Zhu Youtang didn't care about lying there anymore. He sat up and didn't need Zhang Zhou to look at him. He said with emotion, "Actually, I didn't think about it myself. I want to use Mao Ren, but I don't want to use it, and it's not all right." Because of Yongkang's strength, and because I feel that no matter how capable Maoren is, he is just a prince-in-law. Now I want to reward him for his merits, but if he makes a mistake in the future, how should I punish him?"

This is where Cui Yuan’s identity becomes embarrassing.

Now that they have received military honors, everyone is happy, but they are just discussing how to award the reward and arguing back and forth, which does not break the rules of the court.

But if Cui Yuan leads the army and loses the battle, or if he makes a big mistake like Zhu Hui and others, and is impeached, and has to be sent away or even sentenced to death, will the emperor kill him or not?To punish or not to punish?

Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "Your Majesty thinks far ahead than I do."

When Cui Yuan won the military merit, he had already planned for Cui Yuan to be convicted and punished in the future. It seems that the emperor still has no confidence in his brother-in-law. This also indirectly shows that in Zhu Youtang's mind, he doesn't really want to use it. Cui Yuan, this brother-in-law?

In other words, the emperor seems to have some sympathy for his brother-in-law who is strict with his wife, but in fact he still looks down on his brother-in-law who relies on marriage to get to the top.

This kind of disdain can be regarded as the inherent attribute of royal people.

Your sister is like this, and you always criticize her, but aren't you yourself the same?
"Bingkuan, I also know that you have a straight temper. Even if you take a girl back, you will treat her with caution. Let's do this. I will arrange for you to meet the girl to see if you have a affinity with you. It just so happens that you The family is not very prosperous, so I want to help you." Zhu Youtang suddenly became nervous.

Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "Your Majesty's kindness, I have no choice but to accept it."

While talking, Zhang Zhou was also thinking, Your Majesty, please stop pretending. I can see that you actually want to promote a marriage between me and the Cui family. This will make Cui Yuan and I have an in-law relationship, which will make it easier for me to use Cui Yuan. Yuan can also add a bond so that you can trust Cui Yuan a little more.

As for the question of whom to look up to and look down on, it may not be that important. Who makes marriage in this era the product of political alliance?
……

……

Zhu Youtang's illness was naturally not serious. Zhang Zhou didn't even prescribe any medicine. He just asked the emperor, who knew he was in good health, to rest more.

Probably just by being a leisurely person, even if it takes ten days and a half, the disease will eventually get better.

The disease is easy to recover from, but if you want your body's bones to be strong, you need years of conditioning.

Later, Zhang Zhou went to Kunning Palace to consult Queen Zhang. Zhu Youtang did not go there. He just asked Zhang Yong to take Zhang Zhou to Kunning Palace, and told him to leave at any time after seeing the doctor... Probably because he did not treat Zhang Zhou as a doctor. outsider.

"Mr. Cai Guogong, when do you think there will be errands, can we find an opportunity for these people to continue serving the imperial court?"

After Zhang Yong returned to the capital, he was a little confused.

Originally, he had little chance to rise, but Zhang Zhou arranged for him to go to Xuanda University. Later, he successively obtained military honors, acquired financial and material resources, and even gained connections and connections. He was at the peak of his life, but was recalled by the emperor. Come to the palace.

He was doing all the work he had done when he was a palace chamberlain, which made him a little overwhelmed.

Is this deliberately suppressing me?
Or does it have another purpose?
Zhang Yong himself didn't understand that the emperor gave him the opportunity to contact Zhang Zhou. Of course he wanted to get an answer from Zhang Zhou.Zhang Zhou said: "Liaodong Ping Jurchen, does Eunuch Zhang want to go? This kind of thing actually depends more on His Majesty's arrangements. Don't have any misunderstandings. I have never told Your Majesty anything about you."

Zhang Yong hurriedly explained: "Don't say no, even if Cai Guogong does have any arrangements, it is all out of goodwill. How can I not understand your painstaking efforts?"

Zhang Zhou thought to himself, you still don’t believe what you mean.

"With Eunuch Zhang's current achievements, His Majesty probably wants to stay by his side so that he can make important arrangements at any time. Who said you have to go to the border town to reimburse the court? Can't you stay in the capital?" Zhang Zhou seemed to be chatting.

Zhang Yong smiled bitterly.

Being an eunuch does seem to have more opportunities with the emperor, but Zhang Yong knows very well that with his current identity and status in the palace, and the pressure of so many big bosses and eunuchs, it will be too difficult for him to get ahead in this three-acre area of ​​​​the capital. .

Finally, there was an opportunity to rise as a guard eunuch in the border town. Of course, he didn't want to return to the capital and continue to be a servant.

"We're here. Please go in and pass the news, Eunuch Zhang." Zhang Zhou stood at the door of Kunning Palace.

It was only a few steps from Qianqing Palace.

Zhang Yong smiled and said: "You're welcome. His Majesty has told you to go straight in. Don't worry, there will be attendants in the outer hall and you will not offend the Queen. Please."

"Is that so..."

Zhang Zhou felt a little awkward.

When I arrived at the emperor's inner palace, I didn't even need to go to see the emperor's women. But maybe as Zhang Yong said, there are always maids and eunuchs in the outer hall of Kunning Palace. It's not like the queen is bathing and changing clothes. I'll go in. Afterwards, these palace maids and eunuchs deliberately refused to retaliate and caused trouble for me, right?
……

……

In front of Queen Zhang's phoenix couch, Zhang Zhou sat down and looked at Queen Zhang.

In front of Zhang Zhou was Queen Zhang's arm, but Zhang Zhou didn't reach out to feel the pulse, but only used the "wang" formula.

Empress Zhang looked very weak and asked, "Bingkuan, please don't be cautious. Just feel free to diagnose my pulse."

Zhang Zhou smiled.

It seems that Empress Zhang also regards him as one of her own, but there is obviously a huge gap in this kind of trust. In other words, Empress Zhang only made peace with him as a last resort. The bond of interest is too obvious. Suppose the emperor dies and Zhu Houzhao ascends the throne. , Queen Zhang became Queen Mother Zhang, and maybe she wouldn't talk to him so loudly and angrily.

But Zhang Zhou is not afraid that Queen Zhang will become the second Lu Pheasant. History has proven that Queen Zhang has unique conditions for gaining power, but she does not have the courage and ability.

She is just a little woman who is jealous and cares about her own interests and cannot take care of the overall situation.

"I have something to say. I wonder if I can talk to the Queen alone?" Zhang Zhou meant that he wanted to talk to Queen Zhang alone.

Queen Zhang immediately waved her hand and asked the palace maid to retreat to the outer hall.

After waiting for the others to go out, Zhang Zhoucai said: "The queen's illness is not serious, or there is no place where I can help. I really don't know how to prescribe the prescription."

Empress Zhang looked slightly displeased and said, "Bingkuan, are you saying that I am pretending to be ill?"

"I just think that the queen is just a woman's disease. It has both internal and external diseases. It is not serious, but long-term depression will make the body and mind exhausted, and then produce some not very good symptoms. There is no need to prescribe treatment, more It’s time to open up the depression.”

Zhang Zhou said it was very complicated, but to sum it up, if you are not pretending to be sick, who is?

The color on Queen Zhang's face softened, her eyes became eager, and she asked: "Then how to open up the depression?"

Zhang Zhou smiled without saying a word.

How can you two have a more harmonious relationship, and you actually come to ask me?

In other words, you don’t know what your husband likes and doesn’t like?Judging from your ability to control your husband for so many years, these should be child's play... Of course, the biggest problem is that you can no longer reproduce, so that the emperor's weak heir forces the emperor to find women outside, and your depression Isn’t that exactly where it comes from?
Empress Zhang said: "Bingkuan, you don't need to avoid it. I don't hide illnesses for medical treatment. Even if it involves...private matters between the house curtains, there is no harm in saying it. After all, it is for the purpose of treating illnesses."

Zhang Zhouxin said, "Damn it."

What does your husband and wife’s house property have to do with me?Do you want me to give you some pointers?
"I believe that it comes more from the dragon heir." Zhang Zhou said.

Empress Zhang frowned and said, "If I could still conceive a dragon heir, I wouldn't be like this."

Zhang Zhou said: "Since you can't conceive again, why don't you pay more attention to the existing dragon heir? The prince and the second prince both need the care and love of the queen. After all, they are His Majesty's children and members of the royal family. Your Majesty must also want family harmony. .”

"what?"

Queen Zhang frowned.

Obviously from the eyes of this queen, the concubine Xian seemed to be her husband's woman, but in fact she could not be treated as a human being. Empress Zhang did not even have the patience to make peace with the concubine Xian on the surface, let alone treat the concubine Xian's son well.

Why did Zhu Youtang and Empress Zhang seem so close to each other recently? Is it because Empress Zhang has been so tight-lipped since she entered the palace as a concubine?

This is also where Zhu Youtang envied Zhang Zhou.

Although Zhang Zhou was a minister, there was never a fire in Zhang Zhou's backyard. Zhu Youtang also hinted many times to ask Zhang Zhou for advice, leaving Zhang Zhou at a loss as to how to answer.

Zhang Zhou said: "I originally had a wife who was a mess, but later I brought back several concubines. Now the inner courtyard is quite peaceful. Mainly because the wives and concubines in the family have long understood where they belong... No matter what, the title is always the principal's. It is said that the remaining side houses will each have their own income, so we can live in peace and harmony."

Queen Zhang said: "I naturally know that the throne belongs to the prince, but what if the prince has some advantages and disadvantages?"

Zhang Zhou asked curiously: "If something happens to the prince, I dare to ask the queen, do you want your majesty to adopt a prince back and have his biological mother, or do you want the child to be born from the palace and have you as the legitimate mother?" ?”

"Huh?" Queen Zhang frowned again.

Zhang Zhou said: "I shouldn't talk too much about the affairs of the royal family, but as I think about it, the second prince has always come from the palace. If he is benevolent and filial, he will also fulfill his mother's filial piety towards the queen. If he has to have a stepchild come back in the future, he may not be able to do so. There are many people who are filial to the queen. This is the situation among the people. The queen is just talking about her own family affairs. If there is anything wrong, I hope the queen will not take it seriously."

Queen Zhang was silent for a moment.

She seemed to want to refute Zhang Zhou, but she knew that Zhang Zhou was not lying.

Of course Zhang Zhou was not fooling her, he even had good intentions towards her.

Zhang Zhou wanted to say, damn, am I trying to scare you?It's obviously what happened in history. If you don't realize it now, it will be too late to regret it when you do!
I am a responsible "doctor" and I am really "treating" you. Of course, you have to understand my painstaking efforts before you will know how good I am at prescribing the right medicine.

"Bingkuan, thank you for reminding me." Queen Zhang said with a gentle expression, "Will Your Majesty come over today?"

Zhang Zhou smiled and shook his head: "I don't know."

Empress Zhang said: "Well then, I will ask Concubine Xian to come over and sit down to have a meal together. I can also chat with her about home affairs."

Zhang Zhou said: "I don't dare to interfere too much, but I want to come. Your Majesty also hopes to see harmony in your family."

"But I am also afraid that Your Majesty will think that... I am easy to talk to, and I will... get worse in the future." Queen Zhang almost gritted her teeth and said.

Zhang Zhouxin said that you are a woman who really has no scheming intentions. How can you tell me this?Are you afraid that I will turn around and tell your husband?
Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "Queen, please don't be too talkative. You must know better than me what your Majesty's temper is. Your Majesty is afraid of trouble and contact with strangers. Your Majesty's purpose of having a concubine is just to make your heirs richer. Now, Now that you have a second prince, if your majesty accepts a concubine...it seems like he won't be able to pass the test in his heart, right?"

"You mean?" Queen Zhang glanced at Zhang Zhou, as if she wanted to get something out of Zhang Zhou's words.

Zhang Zhoudao: "There are rumors among the people that His Majesty and the Queen are loving and respectful to each other, just like civil couples. But even civil couples will take concubines if they have few heirs in the family... Will this affect the firm relationship between the couple? On the contrary, the wife Being strong is not conducive to the husband's success. I made a mistake. I hope the Queen will not take offense." (End of this chapter)