The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Zhang Mao was on his way back to Beijing with Wang Fu, the censor of Gansu Province. At the same time, Liu Jing, who was being held in a prison car, and more than 60 soldiers from the Beijing camp were with him. There will be one or two hundred people sent by the local government to escort him to the next stop.

This made Zhang Mao very worried.

Because there were too few people around who could fight, and these people were basically not equipped with firecrackers, before leaving, he specially asked someone to bring a light cannon to defend himself, but it seemed that it was just a weapon for him. to have a psychological comforting effect.

After the group passed Yansui, they did not go in the direction of Piantou Pass or Datong, but planned to go directly through Shanxi towards Zijin Pass.

After being stationed that day, Wang Fu specially called Zhang Mao to the post house to talk, and also mentioned his plan to go to the front line of Xuanfu.

Zhang Maodao: "I have resigned from the military position now. Now I am not leading troops to fight against the Tatars. Why do you want to go to the frontline war zone? If you want to go over to see Wang Bo'an or talk to someone about military affairs and other matters, I also I won’t stop you, but I hope to return to Beijing as soon as possible to reunite with Your Majesty.”

Although Wang Fu looked down on Zhang Mao, an honorable minister who could only talk, after all, Zhang Mao still retained his position in the Governor's Mansion, so he could only hold back his breath.

……

……

After Zhang Mao returned to his room, Zhong Decai hurriedly went up to ask about the situation, and Zhang Mao said it very lightly.

He also seemed very proud of himself and defended the censor until he was speechless.

Zhong Decai said anxiously: "Master, this is not the time to be angry. After he returns, he may report to the court, saying that you don't want to take risks and lose the temper of a general... It must be hard to hear what you say."

Zhang Mao frowned and said, "He is only a seventh-grade Taoist official, so he dares to do this?"

"Haha." Zhong Decai smiled meaningfully, as if to say, you don't know what the virtues of Kedao officials are?
Let me ask you, among the officials from the Sixth Section in the capital, which one are you not afraid of?
Zhang Mao was a little annoyed and said in a cold voice: "Now that I've let the words out, am I wrong if I don't go to Piantouguan and Datong now? If I go to Xuanfu, I will have to delay my return to Beijing for a few more days. That's all On the front line, if the Tatars suddenly attack, what can these people do? "

Zhong Decai didn't want to argue with Zhang Mao about this kind of thing. He said: "Marquis Anyuan has had a very hard time on his journey. He found an opportunity to tell me that he hoped that for the sake of his past kindness, he could speak for him and let me He had a better time on his way back to Beijing, and then he spoke for his family."

"Speak for him?" Zhang Mao said angrily, "He didn't understand the situation, did he? He's fine, it's just that I have something wrong!"

Zhong Decai said: "Master, please calm down. The best way now is to let him bear all the blame. If you can give him a small favor to make him submissive, why not give it to him? This kind of thing cannot be done." Just a favor?"

Zhang Maoze looked stingy and said, "Why should I give him a favor? If it hadn't been for him this time, would I have fallen to where I am now?"

Zhong Decai said anxiously: "My lord, please don't act on impulse. He has been very ill these past few days and has not even asked for a doctor. In this state, it is not certain whether he will be able to make it to the capital. If he can... return to the capital... Before, if you took all the blame on your own, wouldn’t you be fine, sir?”

"so……"

Zhang Mao also seemed a little shaken.

Zhong Decai said: "Although the person leading the team this time is Wang Yushi, the soldiers are all our people. No matter what happens during the day, we will put him in a little place at night, remove his shackles, and let him have a hot mouth and hot soup." Eating food and finding someone to take care of him... is not very complicated."

Zhang Mao said: "Didn't you say that he can only take responsibility after he dies? Then you still need to treat him?"

When Zhong Decai heard this, he immediately felt something was wrong and said hurriedly: "I didn't say I wanted him to die."

"You said that he could bear all the blame before returning to Beijing. Doesn't that mean that he should be borne by a dead man?" Zhang Mao said, "But you are right. He is in his dying years now. It doesn't matter whether he can survive. This is already This is the second time he has made a big mistake. If he can exchange his life for the stability of his family, what else can he ask for? "

Zhong Decai was relieved after hearing this. What he feared most was that Zhang Mao would not sacrifice small interests in exchange for big interests.

The end result is a small gain at a loss.

Zhong Decai said: "Then I will use your order to make arrangements, sir?"

"Yes." Zhang Mao nodded, suddenly thought of something, waved his hand and said, "By the way, let him come to see me, and I will discuss the confession with him. If he does not die after returning to Beijing, it is my responsibility to bite him to death. , also need to take precautions.”

……

……

Liu Jing struggled for seven or eight days on his way back to Beijing, and finally had the chance to find a place with a roof to cover his head after dark. He slumped on the ground, feeling a little depressed.

Zhang Mao pinched his nose and walked into the woodshed, looked around and said, "Old Liu, how did you get into such a mess?"

Liu Jing raised his head and glanced at Zhang Mao. The anger that appeared in his eyes for a moment was immediately annihilated. Then he threw his head to the side and said, "You don't know who you are."

"You stupid duck." Zhang Mao walked over and personally removed Liu Jing's shackles. Then he quickly walked to the side, found a bench and sat down, and said, "Don't say that I didn't help you. Now the imperial guard Shi will keep a close eye on you, and your case is determined by His Majesty. You will certainly suffer a lot after returning to Beijing."

Liu Jing said: "I know it well."

Zhang Mao sighed: "I also feel that it is a pity. You said that we are ministers in the same palace, why is it necessary? If you had sent troops as early as possible to repel the Tatars, why would you have... Alas!"

Liu Jing glared at Zhang Mao and said, "Is this why you came here to tell me this?"

Zhang Mao smiled and said: "Of course it's not just these few words. I want to say that on your way back to Beijing, find someone to settle you down and take care of your daily life. After you return to Beijing, I will also find someone to lobby for you to let you go early." What do you think of some exoneration?”

"Hmph!" Liu Jing said coldly, "Mr. Zhang, you have forgotten who captured me, right? If you say this now, will I believe you?"

The smile on Zhang Mao's face disappeared instantly.

Zhong Decai on the side said hurriedly: "Marquis Anyuan, didn't you take the initiative to see the father-in-law? Why are you saying such cruel words now? We are all in the same boat. We can discuss anything."

Liu Jingdao: "I just want to find someone to get some medicine back. I didn't say who I asked for. Some people shouldn't be self-righteous."

Zhang Mao gritted his teeth and said: "You mean, I am meddling in other people's business? It's really not as good as watching you die of cold and hunger in the cold wind, so that you can't return to Beijing alive!"

Zhong Decai hurriedly turned back to persuade Zhang Mao: "Master, there are some things we have to say that don't need to be said too harshly. They are just words of anger, so don't hurt the harmony."

Liu Jing had an angry look on his face and said angrily: "If it weren't for the British master and your inability to be a general, why would you be fooled by the Tatars? Others have noticed that your British master has no ability, and they know that your Chinese army is stationed there. In Huamachi, the Tatars dared to attack Huamachi!”

"Incompetent!" Zhang Mao stood up and shouted sternly, "You are making excuses for your incompetence! It was you who stood still and did nothing, which caused the Tatars to run wild. Now you blame me for not giving you a backer?"

Liu Jingdao: "It is precisely because of your incompetence, Zhang, that the Tatars invaded. I thought the Tatars must have come out in force. Who would have thought that the Tatars sent you a few more soldiers because they were looking down upon you! If not, You are such a coward, how dare the Tatars attack my important border town with just a few hundred troops under the leadership of any general?"

"Who are these people? Zhong, did you ask me to quarrel with him? I still want to help him, but now it seems that he should die early!"

Zhang Mao pointed at Zhong Decai, meaning this is the game you arranged for me?

Am I here to be pissed off? Zhong Decai felt helpless. He tried to persuade her with words, but he was muttering in his heart.

What is this operation?
You two incompetent people are still arguing here about who is more incompetent? What is the difference between this and laughing at fifty steps and laughing at a hundred steps? Probably as the Anyuanhou said, the Tatars don't take you seriously at all.

"Two gentlemen, think about it. The Tatar attack was just a coincidence. No one deliberately created the environment. Aren't you both at fault in this matter?" Zhong Decai wanted to be a peacemaker. .

"Who is at fault?" Zhang Mao said angrily.

Liu Jingdao: "Since he was also at fault, why am I the only one suffering now?"

Zhong Decai said: "Isn't that because Anyuanhou is more responsible for you? When the father-in-law led the troops on the expedition, you were responsible for the defense of Huamachi. There was an enemy attack at night, but you didn't send troops quickly, but delayed and caused the Tatars to attack." After plundering, you are the one the court will pursue first! The plan for now is to quickly reduce the big issue... An Yuanhou, you have a strong background in the court, and you may not be guilty if you find connections."

Liu Jing glared at Zhang Mao and said, "If you work with such a person, you will lose your life. I don't dare to hope that I can go back alive."

"Hey!"

Zhang Mao was completely furious now, and said angrily, "Well, you are Liu, you are toasting me instead of eating the fine wine. I wanted to help you, but now it seems that you should die a worthy death. This time Who cares about you on the road? No one knows how you died."

Liu Jingdao: "A real man is destined to die."

"Bah!" Zhang Mao said, "In the past, you were tyrannical and extortionate in Guangdong and Guangxi, and you did things that outraged both humans and gods. This time, God wants to take you! This time when I go back, I will add insult to injury for you, and I'll kill everyone in your family!" "

Liu Jing sneered and said: "I'm afraid it's not that easy if you want me to kill everyone in my family. Do you think I am Duke Bao? Even if I am Duke Bao, he just fell into a trap and is still alive and well. ”

Zhang Mao said: "You think that with the support of the Empress Dowager, you don't have to die? What about Zhu Dongyang? His whole family is guilty now! You will see if anyone can help you then! I, on the other hand, will help your family well then!" "

These words are clearly threats and provocations.

Zhong Decai hurriedly said: "Master, don't say angry words! Master Hou, you can also say something soft. Master is angry now, doesn't he also come to help? He captured you at that time, but it was forced by the situation, and some Sometimes you have to give up your car to save your handsomeness.”

Liu Jingdao: "You also know that I am a person who can be abandoned as soon as you want, so why bother talking to him? Zhang, I don't think your family will be in a good situation. Even if I risk my life this time, I will drag you along." Get into the water!"

"It's the opposite!"

Zhang Mao couldn't listen anymore this time and walked directly outside the woodshed.

"Master..."

Zhong Decai saw at first glance that he was acting as a peacemaker, but now the two parties involved were not giving him any face, and one party wanted to leave directly. He didn't know whether he should chase after him or pull him back first.

"Master Marquis, calm down and endure the calm for a while. Who else can help you besides my father-in-law?" Zhong Decai said hurriedly when he saw that Zhang Mao had already left the woodshed door.

Liu Jingdao: "You just arranged for me to live in this stable, and you said you would help me? He doesn't need to be kind!"

"Ugh!"

When Zhong Decai saw that even Liu Jing didn't appreciate him, he could only sigh and hurriedly chased him out.

……

……

Zhang Mao was trembling all over when he returned to the post house.

Zhong Decai followed him, thinking that Zhang Mao was angry, so he hurriedly said: "Master, calm down."

As he spoke, Zhong Decai's hand touched Zhang Mao's shoulder.

Zhang Mao said angrily: "Take your hands away!"

At this time, Zhong Decai realized that Zhang Mao's tone of voice was vibrating, and it was obvious that Zhang Mao was really scared.

He said the harshest words, but he was terribly afraid.

Zhong Decai immediately realized that Liu Jing's unrelenting attitude made Zhang Mao feel a crisis that Zhang Mao had never felt before.

Zhong Decai said: "Liu is just talking angry words. How powerful is he? Will the court believe what he says? He is just a defeated general and cannot be put on the stage."

Zhang Mao said: "He is the general of the defeated army. Who am I?"

"Uh..." Zhong Decai immediately felt that Zhang Mao seemed to be deeply introspecting.

"I have thought about it. After I go back, I will plead guilty on my own. My son will be responsible for all the future affairs of the Zhang family. From now on, I will not ask any questions about the Zhang family's affairs!" Zhang Mao said.

"Master!" Zhong Decai wanted to say something else, but seeing Zhang Mao's frightened and desolate look, he instantly felt that it was useless to persuade him.

Zhang Mao said: "That Zhang Bingkuan also took control of my Zhang family. He suppressed me, but he still retained the incense of my Zhang family. My son and my grandson are still in the army, forcing me to I have no choice but to give in. Now I will take care of him. At worst, I will just be an idle person and won’t fight with him anymore.”

"Master, we hold the power of the Beijing camp, so let it go like this? Besides, can Mr. Cai Guo take it?" Zhong Decai was obviously unwilling to accept it.

As the admiral of the capital camp, Zhang Mao made a lot of money, and he, Zhong Decai, also became rich because of it.

Now it is tantamount to handing over your wealth to others.

Zhang Mao said: "Tell me, is there any other way?"

Zhong Decai lowered his head and said helplessly: "The situation is pressing, but... there should be a turn for the better."

"Looking at the confidence of Liu, you know that he wants to take advantage of the conflict between me and Zhang Bingkuan. He must want to sow discord, and what he said must be what His Majesty wants to hear, and what Zhang Bingkuan wants to hear. He thinks it is so effective. , but it is still unknown whether he can return to Beijing alive!" Zhang Mao gritted his teeth, and the fierceness came up, not only to put Liu Jing in jail, but also to make him irrecoverable.

Zhong Decai said: "Then..."

"Take this opportunity... to prevent him from returning to the capital." Zhang Mao said, "You have the means, I know it."

"Will this..."

"He is seriously ill anyway and won't live long. Who knows if he puts some poison in his food?" Zhang Mao even gave the instructions himself. "When he dies, all the blame will be placed on him alone. When his family is ruined and everyone is dead, , I'm here to guard the door for him! His house belongs to me! I don't believe that he has the courage to come to me for revenge when he becomes a ghost? How capable is he to go to the Palace of Hell? !" (End of this chapter)