The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

West Nuan Pavilion.

Zhu Youtang's health improved after two years, but he still didn't want to go to court. Once a person becomes relaxed and lazy, he would feel unbearable if he wanted to clean up his mood and finish his tight life. Now he would rather evade his responsibilities as an emperor and feel at ease. Be an idler.

"Bingkuan's mentality is better. I also think that this way, I can have more time to rest and think about other things."

Zhu Youtang beautifies his behavior as accumulated life experience.

He drank the milk tea specially prepared for him and read leisurely. What he read was not the Four Books and Five Classics, but the interesting story collection "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio". Chen Kuan was writing beside him, making decisions on some so-called important matters. I just ask him a few questions occasionally.

It made Zhu Youtang feel that he was the actual controller of the court, maintaining his leisure without affecting his control of the Ming Dynasty.

"What has Yang Peng done recently?" Zhu Youtang suddenly thought of something after reading a chapter and asked Chen Kuan on the side.

Chen Kuan probably felt that this was the emperor's association with the actual situation from certain chapters in the book, because he himself also did a little research on the book the emperor read and learned that there were many contents that pointed out the current ills, which also made Chen Kuan Kuan deeply felt that the author of the book was deliberately guiding the emperor's thoughts.

Chen Kuandao: "Since Yang Peng returned to Beijing, he has generally been honest. Previously, Li Zhang basically handled all the official affairs in the East Factory. But... Yang Peng still has selfish motives in handling certain things."

"Really?" Zhu Youtang frowned slightly after hearing this. He was obviously dissatisfied with Yang Peng and defensive at the same time.

Chen Kuan naturally wanted to retaliate against Yang Peng for his perfunctory treatment of Ning Tong. He said, "Yang Peng still follows the rules when it comes to doing things."

Zhu Youtang nodded and said: "He is quite measured in his behavior, but his reputation has not been very good before. Some people say that he is radical in his actions, but I think that if the admiral of Dongchang does not have courage, how can he take on such an important responsibility? But you can’t put all your eggs in one basket.”

Chen Kuan thought for a while, wondering what the emperor meant by this.

"Xichang." Zhu Youtang suddenly mentioned it intentionally or unintentionally, "When I was young, I thought that Xichang was not bad, at least it could provide checks and balances. But in the end, it made the officials in the court doubtful, but now... …”

Chen Kuan was stunned.

The emperor's meaning couldn't be more obvious.

The main purpose of setting up the West Factory in parallel with the East Factory was to strengthen the imperial power. However, because the West Factory made officials uneasy, the West Factory was constantly impeached, and the final result was that it was abolished with the fall of Wang Zhi.

But now what the emperor wants is to restrict the power of those ministers. It seems necessary to establish the West Factory at this time.

Chen Kuan suddenly felt that he understood the emperor's deepest thoughts.

Zhu Youtang said: "Is there anything else? If not, you go back first, I want to rest."

Chen Kuan looked at the sky, but it was just sunset. When it was time to turn on the lamp, it would be strange for the emperor to go to rest at this time. Apparently the emperor was slacking off on government affairs and was just looking for excuses to send him away.

"Your Majesty, there is something..." Chen Kuan had no choice but to bring up a memorial.

"Who is going to report? What's the matter?" Zhu Youtang asked.

Chen Kuandao: "It came from the port. It was the supervision of the censor, involving... Shouning Hou and Jianchang Bo."

"What? Didn't you tell me earlier?" Zhu Youtang said, snatching the memorial and holding it in his hand to read.

At this moment, Chen Kuan couldn't guess whether the emperor cared about the Zhang brothers or what happened at the port.

"Bastard! Bastard!" Zhu Youtang became angrier as he watched and said, "I asked them to lead troops to fight, but when they got there, they didn't do anything. They only caused trouble for the place. If it weren't for Bingkuan... how could I have done this? With two wives and brothers like this? For ordinary people, this is not a waste of money. What is this?

Speaking of the excitement, Zhu Youtang coughed.

"Your Majesty, calm down." Chen Kuan hurriedly tried to persuade him.

"Go and call the queen over. I want to see what she says! It's really... ugh!" Zhu Youtang seemed very disappointed.

Chen Kuan instantly thought that if the emperor said he wanted to rest tonight, he would probably go to Kunning Palace. But looking at this situation, not only would the emperor not go to Kunning Palace, there would probably be a conflict between the couple.

Chen Kuan felt that he was in trouble, but he didn't know how to resolve it, so he could only get up and go out to spread the message.

……

……

Not long after, Queen Zhang appeared in Xinuan Pavilion.

Originally, she came to the appointment excitedly. For the couple's appointment, Empress Zhang even dressed up carefully. This was unnecessary before because Empress Zhang knew her identity and status very well, and what her husband liked was her simplicity. style.

But now that she has competitors, she has to make some changes in her mentality.

I need to please my husband.

When she arrived, she felt that something was wrong when she saw her husband's look on his face.

"I see you, Your Majesty." Queen Zhang knelt down and saluted obediently.

Zhu Youtang said: "Look at the good things He Ling and Yan Ling have done!"

With that said, he handed the memorial to Chen Kuan, who then handed it to the kneeling Queen Zhang.

Empress Zhang wanted to get up directly, but seeing that her husband was full of anger, she had no choice but to take the memorial and read the contents carefully through the candlestick held by Chen Kuan.

It's a pity that the above content is a bit obscure. After all, she has basically never seen memorials, and she is not used to the writing style of literati.

"I asked their brothers to go to Liaodong to fight. They delayed and delayed along the way. It took them a few days longer than others to arrive at the transit point. After they arrived, they did not want to make progress and only wanted to cause trouble. If Bingkuan hadn't suppressed the matter, If they come down, not only will they be laughed at, but I, too, will probably become the laughing stock of everyone in the world!" Zhu Youtang said angrily.

Empress Zhang finally straightened things out through her husband's guidance on the matter.

When Empress Zhang heard that her two younger brothers were causing trouble again, she felt helpless and said, "Your Majesty, don't you know what their temperament is?"

There is a feeling of helplessness in loving someone.

It’s not that Empress Zhang insists on pampering her two younger brothers. It can only be said that these two younger brothers are too disappointing. No matter how much the elder sister tries to change, there is nothing she can do in the end. In the end, she can only rely on her own identity and status to help the two. The younger brother acts as a backup guard.

If you can’t prevent them from making mistakes, then help them make up for them when they make mistakes.

Zhu Youtang said: "I know it, you know it, and even everyone in the world knows it! Just like this, I help them again and again! What on earth am I trying to do? There are people who cause trouble, but who can be like them... …Ahem, you never know how to restrain yourself?”

Empress Zhang also said with a bitter face: "Your Majesty, didn't you agree to let them go for training? Then send them to Liaodong earlier."

Zhu Youtang frowned and said, "What do you mean? Is it because Bingkuan didn't send them to the Liaodong front line earlier?" "I didn't mean this." Queen Zhang said, "But when we were at the port, something happened. Shouldn't someone help them... I want to say that since I can suppress this matter, it's best if I can..."

Before his wife could finish speaking, Zhu Youtang reached out and interrupted his wife's defense.

Zhu Youtang said: "What a sin! What did I owe you Zhang family in my previous life? It's really... alas! Bingkuan was too embarrassed to mention this to me. He Ling and Yan Ling, I thought they were just teenagers. After all, They are not very old, and I thought they were just teenagers, but over the years, they are no longer the childish urchins they were back then!”

Empress Zhang closed her eyes and said, "Your Majesty, you can punish me however you want, as long as I don't object."

"I will immediately order their brothers to go to Liaodong. As I said before, as long as they can do their best in this battle, as long as they don't shrink from the battle and make no big mistakes, I will continue to promote them. But after returning to the capital, I'm afraid that I won't be able to give them any more errands from the Governor's Mansion..." Zhu Youtang said.

Queen Zhang said: "Why?"

Obviously, Queen Zhang was dissatisfied with this matter.

A promotion to a title should be accompanied by an increase in official rank. Otherwise, how can we show that the Ming Dynasty belongs to our family?
Zhu Youtang said helplessly: "Give them some power, and they will do evil. Haven't they learned enough lessons before? Even if they were allowed to stay in Beijing for such a short period of time years ago, they would cause trouble. Give them a higher level of power." Wouldn’t it be nice to have a title and better conditions for them to enjoy in peace of mind? If they are not the materials to do things, why must we force them to do so?”

Apparently the emperor was completely disappointed in his two brothers-in-law.

Mud can't support the wall.

Queen Zhang said: "However, many people can achieve great success. Why doesn't Your Majesty give them more opportunities? They are young and have nothing to do..."

Zhu Youtang was a little angry and said: "There are many people who are young and do nothing, but at least they should be enterprising. Don't always think that they are relatives of the emperor and act recklessly, or even ignore the laws of the Ming Dynasty. Just like Zhu Zhijie, Before he was sent to the battlefield, he knew nothing, but look at him now?"

Empress Zhang said hurriedly: "Didn't Yanling fight with him during the battle with Ningyuan? Yanling even killed the enemy himself, which is no worse than Zhu Feng."

Zhu Youtang thought about it and it seemed right.

"but……"

"Your Majesty, please give them more opportunities." Empress Zhang kowtowed, almost begging, "I only have these two younger brothers. They have not made great contributions now, but didn't they have opportunities before? Now in the imperial court With capable ministers like Zhang Qing, he can help He Ling and Yan Ling, as long as he sincerely wants to help. "

Zhu Youtang frowned and said, "Isn't this considered helping?"

Empress Zhang said: "I also know that this matter happened thanks to the help from the Zhang Qing family behind the scenes, so that the matter did not become a big deal. I will also write to them to warn them and let them listen to the Zhang Qing family's orders. So." The Zhang Qing family’s ability will definitely find opportunities for them to become the pillars of the Ming Dynasty.”

"you……"

Zhu Youtang originally wanted to warn his wife not to be ungrateful.

But when I think about it, it seems that Zhang Zhou's breakup with the Zhang brothers will not be good for his own backyard and Zhang Zhou's government.

This is why he kept asking Zhang Zhou to cultivate them even though he knew the Zhang brothers were nothing.

Because Zhang Zhou's ability is the greatest resource, not everyone who wants to put people under Zhang Zhou's care will have this opportunity.

Empress Zhang continued to kowtow sincerely and said: "Your Majesty, please give my two brothers more opportunities."

When Zhu Youtang saw that his wife, who was usually so strong, actually begged him in a low voice, the vanity in his heart was instantly satisfied. However, he still couldn't change his face and just said coldly: "Bingkuan has been creating things for them. Opportunities, but they just don’t know how to seize them!”

Queen Zhang did not speak, but was sobbing faintly.

This cry made Zhu Youtang even more heartbroken.

Then Zhu Youtang glanced at Chen Kuan who was standing aside.

Here, Chen Kuan is still thinking, what did I see?

When Chen Kuan found that the emperor was glaring at him, he was very sensible. He quickly bowed and saluted, and left the palace in small steps without making a sound.

After the people left, Zhu Youtang said: "Get up. How can I be so merciless? Alas! Every one of them... Just like the people of the Zhou family, they have always hoped to have the opportunity to follow Bingkuan to make contributions, and they all still Know how to make progress, look at He Ling and Trillium..."

Empress Zhang stood up, with a sad and pitiful look, like a bird clinging to someone. After taking a few steps forward, she knelt down in front of her husband again.

Zhu Youtang said: "Forget it, I will lower my face and send a secret edict to Bingkuan, asking him to find opportunities to help them make contributions. You must know that this is not only destroying the laws of the Ming Dynasty, but also relying on my relationship with Bingkuan. And so..."

Empress Zhang said hurriedly: "I understand that this is very difficult for the Zhang Qing family, but who gave him the ability? If there is anyone in this world who can make Heling and Yanling the pillars of the country, that person must be the Zhang Qing family."

"It's good to know." Zhu Youtang was no longer angry now and sighed softly, "This is too embarrassing for Bingkuan. Even if it doesn't work out, we can't blame him. The only blame is that Heling and Yanling are not the same. Be upbeat."

……

……

In the room of the Supervisor of Ceremonies.

After Chen Kuan came back, he did not mention anything about the emperor and the queen to Wei Bin, but mentioned that the emperor might reopen the Xichang.

"This matter must not be leaked to the outside world." Chen Kuan finally said seriously.

Wei Bin said: "Of course I understand. I am afraid that no one else will know about this matter. If it is really leaked, it will be the responsibility of our Chief of Ceremonies. But it is also very relieved. Your Majesty is wary of Yang Peng, and he still I think I can do anything.”

Chen Kuan said coldly: "Then you know, what other purpose does His Majesty have for doing this?"

"Please enlighten me." Wei Bin said hurriedly.

Chen Kuan frowned slightly and said: "Originally, we thought that His Majesty wanted Cai Guogong's people to pick up the West Factory, but now it seems that this may not be the case. His Majesty probably wants to use the West Factory to check and balance the East Factory, and at the same time for precautions Cai Guogong’s family is the only one.”

Wei Bin said: "Not necessarily?"

"Why, do you think His Majesty will be unwary of Cai Guogong?" Chen Kuan asked.

Wei Bin said helplessly: "In this situation, do you need to talk about it? If your Majesty wants to check and balance Cai Guogong, you can't let Yang Peng come back to take over the East Factory. I guess... Your Majesty is prepared for the possibility of one family becoming dominant, but he is just afraid of it. The people obeyed the emperor’s orders in both positive and negative ways.”

"Are you talking about Yang Peng or our family?" Chen Kuan was a little angry at this argument.

"Eunuch, please calm down first. Your Majesty, maybe we are testing your reaction." Wei Bin said, "If this west factory is opened, wouldn't it be us who will benefit the most?"

Chen Kuan seemed to realize something and nodded slightly, but seemed to have fallen into deep thought again. (End of chapter)