The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

When Pu Yuanzong came out of Qinzheng Hall, he was completely confused.

Before entering, he was still a hero of North Korea, a capable minister who assisted the new master Zhongzheng. He also helped North Korea deal with the suzerain country to achieve a balance of power. How come he would be sent to the army just after he came out? Far away?
"Why don't you fight? I think your king doesn't have much respect for you."

Xu Jing will fan the flames next to him. He has received some advice from Tang Yin before, and he always wants to sow discord between the kings and ministers of North Korea.

Pu Yuanzong said: "As a minister, I should understand the difficulties of my lord. Just as the imperial court now needs people in Liaodong, I go there on behalf of North Korea because my lord respects your majesty today."

These words are righteous and righteous, and there is a determination and attitude of being a loyal minister to the death.

Tang Yin didn't comment, he just patted Pu Yuanzong on the shoulder and walked away.

That's about it.

Believe it or not, it's up to you, as long as you're happy, you've done a lot of deceiving yourself anyway.

……

……

Three Tun Camps.

It had been less than five days since Cui Yuan and Zhu Feng had withdrawn their troops from the grassland. Only those who had experienced it could understand the pain they and the soldiers they led along the way. This seemed to have made Zhu Feng realize that they could How important it is to accurately determine the direction and be able to read the map clearly.

Leading troops into the grassland, they can still get lost... Even if they get lost, they can still accidentally bump into the main force of the Tatars...

There will never be a second chance of this kind of shitty luck. If we go to the grassland again, we may have to die in the sand, and we don't even know whether we will come back alive.

"Brother Cui, it's a good thing. The imperial court has officially appointed you as the commander-in-chief of Jizhou."

Zhu Feng learned the news from the capital that day and hurried to congratulate Cui Yuan.

But there was no joy at all on Cui Yuan's face.

Liu Yu, the governor of Jizhou, has been "brought to justice" by Zhang Zhou. Now the governor of Jizhou is vacant, let alone the Jiliao general system that the emperor has established, but the position is still vacant. His being the governor of Jizhou means that He wanted to handle military and political affairs, but he had no experience in communicating with local officials.

Because of his status as a relative, others did not have a good discussion with him, nor did they treat him seriously as a capable person. Most people thought that he relied on nepotism to reach his position.

Zhu Feng was probably the only person in the entire army who truly recognized his abilities and didn't even regard him as a prince-in-law.

But Zhu Feng...

It's hard to say.

Cui Yuandao: "With my qualifications and ability, I am not qualified for this job, so I have submitted a petition to your Majesty to appoint someone else. I also recommended you to your Majesty."

Cui Yuan told the truth. He really wanted to return to the capital now, and he missed his wife and home. Thinking about the carefree life before, it seemed quite good.

No matter whether he has any ability or not, no matter how great his achievements are, others will still say that he is a prince-in-law and that he relied on women to get to the position. What’s the point?
Cui Yuan himself is not the kind of person who wants to climb up. For him, power is at most a supplement. He can accept it with or without it.

Zhu Feng said hurriedly: "Brother Cui, don't laugh. I want to go back to the capital. Yanwu Hall still needs me. I won't be idle when I go back."

Although Cui Yuan gave Zhu Feng face and didn't say anything, his eyes seemed to say, you know in your heart whether you will have no time when you go back. If you can change it, I would rather go back to Yanwu Hall to "busy".

"By the way, I also got news that Brother Zhang and Princess Yongkang will be here soon." Zhu Feng quickly wanted to change the subject.

Because Zhu Feng was really afraid of being cheated by Cui Yuan, and he would be the one left behind in the end.

Cui Yuan said in surprise: "Dong Cai Guo is coming? And... the eldest princess?"

Forget it, Zhang Zhou came here with Princess Yongkang? What's the point? The key is, why didn't we learn about this matter from the official documents of the imperial court, but from Zhu Feng's mouth? Is this a public matter or a private matter?
Zhu Feng said: "That's what I said. It seems that I'm here to reward the three armies. If the eldest princess wants to come, she may have proposed it to His Majesty."

Cui Yuan looked a little disappointed and said: "I don't know."

Zhu Feng smiled and comforted: "Perhaps Her Royal Highness the Princess wants to give you a surprise. It is true that this matter was not publicized, and Brother Zhang did not tell me. I learned the news from the capital."

At this time, Cui Yuan couldn't help but look at Zhu Feng curiously. He seemed to be wondering where Zhu Feng had so many information channels.

But then he understood.

Zhu Feng has been hanging out in Yanwu Hall for several years, and it is not in vain. Many generals who came out of Yanwu Hall, even if these people are not top generals, are distributed in the middle ranks of various armies and have become famous people all over the border. The backbone, and they are all actual military leaders.

Zhu Feng usually laughs and laughs, and doesn't think others respect Zhu Feng very much, but it's not difficult to get information.

In addition, Zhu Feng also has a friend named Zhang Zhou. Everyone in the world knows that Zhu Feng and Zhang Zhou are brothers. Moreover, behind Zhu Feng is the big tree of Chengguo Gongfu. It is indeed not Cui Yuan's kind. The upstarts who have just emerged can't compare.

Cui Yuandao: "I wonder why Lord Cai Guo is here?"

Obviously Cui Yuan was worried that Zhang Zhou was here to serve as a supervisor. He, the commander-in-chief who had not yet taken office, felt a lot of pressure.

Zhu Feng smiled and said: "I have learned some gossip about this, which is unknown to outsiders. If you want to hear it, I will tell you in detail."

After saying that, Zhu Feng sat down and said with a smile, "Brother Zhang is here to mobilize troops to Liaodong. There are not only Mongolian Tatars, but also Jurchen Tatars. We are the Mongol Tatars." They have been sorted out, but the Jurchen Tatars have started to make trouble again in the past year. Brother Zhang is not here, and the new uncle is not here either. The Jurchen Tatars are now a little complacent. "

Cui Yuan was obviously a little ignorant about this, and asked: "Haven't all the Jurchens been dealt with? I also know that most of the Jurchens have moved south."

Zhu Feng said: "Tatars are Tatars, and their habits are hard to change. It is true that they moved south, but their nature is bad. How can they engage in production with peace of mind? In southern Liaoning and other places, they began to cause trouble and even occupied some cities and villages. Some even retreated northward on their own.”

"Is that so?" Cui Yuandao, "Then one policeman and a hundred police officers should be killed."

"It's no use. If these Jurchens were all in the same group, it would be easy to solve, but they themselves are like mountains, and there is no connection between one and that. There is serious internal strife among them. These people refuse to obey. Before, they wanted to use the The policy of gentleness may need to be tougher now, even if it is moved to Liaonan, or it may be sent directly to Yunnan!”

Zhu Feng looked very knowledgeable.

Cui Yuan asked: "According to your opinion, in the next step, Cai Guogong will lead his troops to defeat the Jurchens?"

Knowing that Zhang Zhou was going to Liaodong through Yongping Mansion, Cui Yuan was somewhat relieved. At least he didn't have to face such a powerful boss like Zhang Zhou every day, which could easily make him show his cowardice.

Zhu Feng said: "I don't think so. I heard that it might be the person who used Tang Yin. That Tang Bohu should not be underestimated. He is a fellow disciple of Brother Zhang. He has not come back from North Korea."

"By the way, why didn't he reply?" Cui Yuan was like a political novice.

He doesn't understand many things. No one has told him before, and he doesn't need to ask. These things have little to do with him. Now that Zhu Feng had said it, he naturally wanted to find out.

He is already a commander-in-chief. If he doesn't know these things at all, he himself will feel that he is too difficult to get along.

Zhu Feng said with a smile: "Tang Yin seems to be just a scholar, but he does hard work without giving in at all. He took over the kings and ministers of North Korea at once, and it became a big deal with just a few hundred people. He went North Korea is here to mobilize troops, but the North Koreans do not want to help us fight the Jurchens. Only by letting Tang Yin go can we force them to send troops. "

Cui Yuan shook his head and said: "In my estimation, even if Tang Shilang goes there, North Korea may not surrender, right? No matter how many soldiers and horses they send, they are not as effective as the Ming Dynasty sending thousands of soldiers and horses."

Zhu Feng said: "You don't understand this. It doesn't matter how many soldiers and horses North Korea sends, and it doesn't matter if their soldiers and horses can't do the job. The important thing is to let them fight. It's best to lose both sides."

"Oh."

Cui Yuandao, "So in the next step, Cai Guogong may send people to deal with North Korea?"

"This can't be said nonsense. After all, Korea is our vassal state. It has been like this for many years. The place is a bit dissatisfied with Wang Hua, but no matter how you say it, it is generally obedient. If this kind of thing is known, you may not think that we are responsible for it. All vassal states rely on coercion, not gentleness."

Zhu Feng seemed to care about face matters now.

Cui Yuan smiled and nodded: "I felt enlightened after hearing what you said."

Zhu Feng stood up, smiled and returned the greeting: "Anyway, I'll leave the affairs here to you from now on. After I wait for Brother Zhang to come, I will discuss the date of return with him. I haven't seen him for a long time, and I miss him. You Don’t get me wrong, I feel it’s an honor to know him in this life.”

Cui Yuan also stood up to see him off. Hearing this, he felt the same and said, "Although Mr. Cai Guo didn't mention much to me, he is still my boss. I also feel that I am lucky to know such a person in my lifetime."

"Both each other." Zhu Feng said, "Then we can work together in the future. If we help Brother Zhang more, we can become a pillar of the court like him in the future."

Cui Yuan was stunned.

Now that we have led troops and fought such great victories, and have been entrusted with important tasks by the emperor, are we not considered pillars?
But thinking about what Zhang Zhou did makes Cui Yuan feel a little powerless.

It’s really a comparison between people…

……

……

Zhang Zhou was already on his way to Santun Camp.

Even if his destination is the port of Tianjin Wei, he still has to go to Santun camp first. His presence in rewarding the three armies will show that the court attaches great importance to it. At the same time, he also goes to meet Zhu Feng and Cui Yuan. Let’s meet and make arrangements for the next step.

Yongkang accompanied him on the road, and they were only traveling in a team. Yongkang wanted to meet Zhang Zhou several times, but Zhang Zhou refused.

When they arrived at Yongping Mansion, the team was still reorganizing outside the post house that day. Yongkang insisted on coming over to meet Zhang Zhou, and he was polite to Sun Shangqi who came from Zhang Zhou, so there was no conflict.

"Master, the eldest princess is outside." Guo Ang came in and informed Zhang Zhou.

Guo Ang, as the envoy of Fusi Town in Beizhen, accompanied Zhang Zhou, and Sun Shangqi also came with him.

However, Sun Shangqi did not stay in the capital as the governor of Beizhen Fusi Town. This position is currently vacant, or Guo Ang is still in charge.

Zhang Zhou said: "Please."

Zhang Zhou didn't need to go out to greet him, he just waited in the post house. Then he saw Yongkang coming escorted by several government soldiers.

"Mr. Zhang, why have you been invited to see me so many times but you haven't been able to? Shouldn't we make it clear now about some things? I heard that after arriving at the garrison, you were going to leave without stopping. Can't we talk openly?"

With Yongkang's temper, she really didn't want to suffer, and she even didn't want to talk to people like this.

It seemed like there was no one in the world who could suppress her.

But she also knew that she had to ask Zhang Zhou now, so her questioning was a bit lackluster, so she could only say it tactfully.

Zhang Zhou smiled and gestured to a chair beside him, probably asking her to sit down and talk.

Yongkang said: "If you don't want to see someone, I can't be ignorant. Just say what you say and leave. I just heard that the emperor asked the consort to stay in Jizhou as the commander-in-chief. This is different from what the emperor told me before. , Didn’t we agree before that the prince-in-law should return to the capital and do errands for him in the capital camp?”

Zhang Zhou shrugged and said, "Your Highness, Prince Consort Cui did win the last battle, but that is over."

"It's passed? What do you mean? Doesn't it count?" When Yongkang heard this, Zhang Zhou was planning to "default"?
Zhang Zhou said: "Of course the contributions we have made cannot be ignored. Isn't there another one?"

"Next game?"

Yongkang was about to explode when he heard this, and said angrily, "After fighting one battle after another, I just came back from Ningxia and was sent to Jizhou. The war in Jizhou has just ended. What errands do you plan to send him? Are you like this?" Do you sincerely want to torture him to death? "

Zhang Zhou said: "No, but this time we may need him to assist in the overall management of Ji-Liao military affairs, pacify Liaodong, and further deal with the Jurchens."

"What do you mean?" Yongkang frowned.

Zhang Zhou took out a map and spread it out for her to see under Yongkang's puzzled gaze.

Yongkang said: "I'm a woman and can't understand maps or anything like that."

Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "I thought there was nothing in the world that you, eldest princess, don't understand."

Yongkang glared at Zhang Zhou fiercely and wanted to have a fit, but he still held back.

Zhang Zhou said: "The threat of Jurchens has always been there, and the threat will get bigger and bigger in the future. My opinion is to kill it in the cradle. Before they rise, the hidden dangers must be completely eradicated. The Jurchens have been dealt with before." If the eldest princess cares about it, she should know that Uncle Xin Xin and others have made great achievements before. "

"What does this have to do with my consort?" Yongkang obviously wanted to protect his husband.

No matter what you say, you can't let your husband take another risk.

Zhang Zhou said: "Cui Prince Consort does not need to lead troops on the front line, but he may need to coordinate the deployment and garrison of troops. Shanhaiguan... The next step may be that he will have to guard it. If various people attack, he can probably mobilize 200,000 troops. Horse, he is only part of..."

"Two hundred thousand?"

"That's right, it's two hundred thousand. Although the Jurchens are small in number, they are very scattered. Even deploying two hundred thousand troops may not be able to cure the problem. I just want to further clean up the situation. I am here this time to help complete this project. Things." (End of chapter)