The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

The plowing was finally completed in early February. Zhu Youtang appeared in front of the ministers, but did not communicate with the ministers about court affairs.

After Zhu Youtang personally farmed, he immediately took a luan back to the city. Liu Jian and others wanted to find an opportunity to communicate with Zhu Youtang, but they were blocked by Chen Kuanren.

Later, when he was asked whether Zhu Youtang would go to court the next day, Chen Kuan refused on the grounds of "not knowing", and then...from early February to February 14th, when the inter-examination session was about to end, Zhu Youtang still It is a state of not going to court.

This made the civil servants in the DPRK and China very worried.

At this time, Zhang Mao returned to the capital, and Liu Jing's body came back with Zhang Mao and his party.

Changning Bo Zhou Yu received the order from the Queen Mother Zhou and went out of the city to greet him together with Fu Han, the left minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs. They were also accompanied by people from Liu Ke. They originally wanted to inquire directly about the cause of Liu Jing's death, and they wanted to ask about the cause of Liu Jing's death. The generals who were convicted in the battle of Chi Yi were interrogated together, but they were told that the case had been taken over by Dongchang.

Yang Peng came back with the group and he personally sent away the people who came to greet them.

"Everyone, please go back." Yang Peng said, "Unless His Majesty orders it, even our family cannot reveal military and political affairs to you. We will wait for the news on the merits and demerits of this battle."

Zhou Yu said: "Eunuch Yang, I heard from the capital's newspaper that the battle in the northwest was caused by Marquis Anyuan not sending troops, which led to the Ming soldiers being besieged and defeated. Is the news true? And there are still people spreading it, saying The death of Marquis Anyuan was strange, and someone deliberately prevented him from speaking out. Is this possible? "

At this time, Zhou Yu seemed to be a reporter on the front line.

Yang Peng frowned and said, "Uncle, is this something you should ask?"

"What? Can't you ask about the affairs of the government and the public?" Zhou Yu looked around and found that everyone was looking at him with curious eyes. He smiled ashamedly and said, "No, the Empress Dowager is also concerned about the affairs of Marquis Anyuan. , let me ask, I might as well report it to the Empress Dowager later."

Yang Peng said: "Oh, this is not okay! Before the results come out, it is best not to talk to the elderly about these things casually. Even if the Empress Dowager is concerned about this matter, it still involves military affairs. Who dares to make rash conclusions?"

As he said that, Yang Peng looked at Zhang Mao who was not getting off his horse.

At this time, Zhang Mao just wanted to pretend to be strong and healthy. In fact, he rode a carriage instead of riding a horse along the way.

It was only when he arrived at the outskirts of Beijing that he put on his military uniform and even mounted a horse. It wasn't that he didn't want to get off his horse to say hello to these people, but without help... he couldn't even jump off the horse.

Originally, he didn't need help with small things like getting on and off the horse, which was why others didn't go over to help him. Who knows if he had done so, would he have blamed him for affecting his majestic appearance?

However, because Zhang Mao was tired from his recent journey and returned from Ningxia, his morale was completely low. He had not ridden a horse recently, so his legs no longer obeyed the command of the horse and he could not get off the horse.

Zhou Yu originally wanted to greet Zhang Mao or something, but seeing that Zhang Mao didn't give up on him at all, he could only bow his hands from a distance and then turned around and stepped aside.

As a result, a group of people, led by the people from the Metropolitan Procuratorate, headed towards the city gate.

……

……

After Zhang Mao entered the city, he went directly back to his hometown. After walking not far, he called his entourage to come over and helped him dismount. He also specially found a place with few people and blocked people around him to avoid embarrassment.

"Why is the market so quiet?" Zhang Mao looked around and asked, "Is there a plague in the capital?"

Zhong Decai also looked around and said helplessly: "How can there be so many idle people in the capital during spring sowing? Besides, we are not returning in triumph, and there are not that many people coming out to welcome us."

Zhang Mao said: "Who said there was no triumph? Didn't you win the battle at Piantuan Pass?"

"Haha." Even Zhong Decai seemed not to give Zhang Mao face this time.

Zhang Mao stood there for a long time and didn't move towards the carriage.

Zhong Decai asked: "Master, what are you doing?"

Zhang Mao said angrily: "If my legs weren't numb, why would I ask you to help? After walking this distance, my legs can't control themselves. Why didn't you come over at the city gate?"

"This... Master, who knew you were in this situation? Weren't you still in good health when you left the capital?" Zhong Decai also didn't understand why Zhang Mao was still so majestic before he went to the expedition. After only a few months, he was like this. Has he become like a bear bag?
Zhang Mao waved his hand and said: "Well, what you say from your mouth makes me look even more desolate! This trip has made me understand the harshness of the world. When I left, so many people saw me off, and when I came back, the Governor's Mansion didn't even send a few more Come and greet me personally.”

Zhong Decai said: "Master, you can still open your eyes and see the coldness of the world. Some people have completely closed their eyes."

"Why, do you think you feel sorry for Liu? It's like it's not you..." After Zhang Mao said this, he looked around. It means, it's not you who killed someone, right?
Zhong Decai smiled bitterly and said: "What I mean is the soldiers on the front line and the heroes who have made contributions to the Ming Dynasty. How can you misunderstand me, sir? Are we going back to the mansion or to the governor's mansion?"

Zhang Mao said: "Of course I will go back home! Wait for your Majesty's summons."

Zhong Decai said: "I heard that Your Majesty has not seen the court for a long time, so if you summon him alone..."

"Why, do you think I'm not qualified?" Zhang Mao was a little angry.

Zhong Decai stopped answering this time.

Zhang Mao said: "There are also many of my people in the Governor's Mansion. And in the Beijing camp, especially in the Fifth Army Camp, how many of my old troops are there? They secretly communicate with them and let them spread the word of my achievements in the army. I don't believe those people." blind?"

Zhong Decai said: "In fact, there is no need for others to discuss the merits and demerits of the Duke. Now both the DPRK and the Central Government are concerned about the war in Liaodong. I guess from your side..."

You want to make yourself popular, but the people in the court don't want to take advantage of you.

Do you care about a has-been prince? No matter how capable you are or how cowardly you are, it's all in the past tense. We all know that you are in ruins, and that's enough.

……

……

The war in Liaodong also advanced slowly in the first month. It wasn't until mid-February that some news came back sporadicly, but it was like a stagnant water. No one along the way achieved any success that attracted the attention of the court. Instead, there were repeated reports of shortcomings in Liaodong's military affairs, especially in the matter of military coordination and command. Not only did the Liaodong soldiers have opinions, but even the officials also had some criticisms about it.

Cabinet value.

Liu Jian, Li Dongyang and Cheng Minzheng were all present that day. Li Dongyang directly stated his point of view in front of the other two people: "Nominally, the newly established general commander Ji Liao Military Affairs Tang Yin is responsible for the war in Liaodong, but now it is clear that They are fighting separately. Tang Yin's troops are on the east road, Yang Yiqing's troops are on the north road, and there are troops from Shouning Marquis and Jian Changbo who have just landed on the west road, and Cui Yuan's troops are on the way... …”

Cheng Minzheng smiled bitterly and said, "Is it so chaotic?"

Li Dongyang said: "These are just a few relatively large groups of people. Scattered ones, such as those transferred from Shandong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, etc., are scattered throughout Liaodong. The scope of activities of the Jurchens is already in northern Liaoning. If it is At the current pace of the army's advance, I'm afraid there won't be any progress in Liaodong in less than a year and a half."

Liu Jiandao: "It is meaningless to pacify the Jurchens. The Jurchens have always surrendered to me, the Ming Dynasty. Even if we can scare them into submission by provoking a war, the problem still lies in how to govern... The strategy of migrating the Jurchens to Yunnan It is inappropriate and this plan should be stopped first.”

Cheng Minzheng reminded: "Could it be that... someone deliberately wants to take advantage of the war in Liaodong to let the Ministry of Household's money and food allocation be tilted upward? You two should also know that His Majesty has spoken in advance. If there is a war, All matters related to military affairs must be dealt with first.”

Li Dongyang said: "Keqin, you are on duty at the listening office. Don't you know better than us? Is this the case?"

"I don't know." Cheng Minzheng's answer was also very ambiguous. "It's true that I often go to the Shangting Office, but now the Shangting Office does not carry out any military and political affairs. It is more to give His Majesty some reference. They are all memorials, how to approve... In fact, you two should also know. There are a total of four people in the listening office... and you should also know what the situation is. In fact, it is far less... effective than handling affairs here. "

Cheng Minzheng didn't know what to say.

Li Dongyang looked at Liu Jian, wanting Liu Jian to comment, but Liu Jian seemed to be thinking about something.

Li Dongyang said: "As far as I know, after Wang Qiong went to the northwest, Lu Wan is currently coordinating the affairs of the Shangting Department. Keqin, have you been suppressed by him in the Shangting Department? Do you have important military affairs?" He didn’t discuss it with you?”

"That's not the case." Cheng Minzheng said, "I know everything about the affairs in the listening office, and I have asked about everything that should be asked. But as you said, no matter how many things Lu Quanqing coordinates, there is nothing he can do about it." He doesn’t make much noise either. His main errands are all at the Ministry of Revenue... Liaodong has mobilized a lot of money and grain recently, although most of them are transporting grain, but basically..."

Liu Jiandao: "Speak directly if you have anything to say."

Cheng Minzheng sighed: "I think the Shangting Office has no intention of arguing with the cabinet. Are we too wary of the Shangting Office?"

Li Dongyang said coldly: "So you think it is necessary for His Majesty to establish a superior hearing office? Isn't it enough to have a cabinet?"

Cheng Minzheng said: "Although I don't know your Majesty's intention of opening the Shangting Office, based on my thinking, the Shangting Office is not entirely filled with cabinet ministers, people from the Hanlin Academy, or even people from the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Works. You can also go in, and it's not fixed. You can go in and out. This is more like being a ceremonial supervisor. And since we are from the Ministry of Cabinet, we don't know many military and political affairs, and we are not as good as those who are deeply involved in the Ministry of Industry and Household Affairs. People in the ministry know better.”

Li Dongyang was dissatisfied with this and said: "You are turning your elbow outward."

Cheng Minzheng said: "Oh, I'm on both sides. It doesn't matter where I turn. Besides, now Lu Quanqing is focused on helping mobilize money and food. There have been a lot of things in the Ministry of Household Affairs recently, and he has even been criticized by many people. Here, Under such circumstances, my attempts to help are in vain, and His Majesty is very pressing about mobilizing money and food... I don’t even know what to say.”

Liu Jiandao: "Then do you think that if Zhang Bingkuan comes back, will the Supervisory Office be able to challenge the cabinet?"

"Yes." Cheng Minzheng said bluntly, "You don't even need Zhang Bingkuan. Even if Wang Dehua comes back from three sides, he can form this kind of posture. But didn't His Majesty still transfer the two of them out? In the battle of Liaodong, His Majesty deliberately wanted to highlight the The function of the upper auditory hall..."

"Okay." Liu Jian interrupted Cheng Minzheng, as if he didn't want to listen to Cheng Minzheng's argument anymore, and said directly, "If you are concerned about government affairs and find an opportunity to turn down your errands in the ministerial office and concentrate on running errands in the cabinet, I will After all, Binzhi is already very old and it’s time to step down. From now on, you should take care of the cabinet affairs.”

Li Dongyang looked at Liu Jian curiously. Now, you still want to turn Cheng Minzheng into "one of your own"?
Is it a little late?

Or do you want to use this method to paralyze Cheng Minzheng's heart and make him feel that he can become one of our own?
Cheng Minzheng said: "Do you think I didn't do this? I have mentioned it to Your Majesty several times, even recently... I don't want to go to the Shangyu Department. The Hanlin Academy... is more suitable for me. By the way, the Hanlin Academy There is something else, I want to go over and check it out, so I won’t disturb you two.”

At this time, Cheng Minzheng deeply felt that he was not a human being inside and outside.

The cabinet no longer trusts him, and Lu Wan does not regard him as one of their own. Only Zhang Zhou seems to appreciate him, but Zhang Zhou is not in the capital yet.

His own mentality is not to fight with anyone. This is because he has put himself in a neutral angle, and then no one will treat him.

……

……

West Nuan Pavilion.

Zhu Youtang sat on the floor mat. Although the cold winter had passed, Zhu Youtang still seemed not to want to leave this comfort zone.

Chen Kuandao: "Your Majesty, there are courtiers requesting you to inspect the government affairs as soon as possible. Some people mentioned that important matters in the DPRK need to be discussed with you in person. Some people also mentioned that the Minister of War has been away from Beijing for a long time, so many things cannot be done. Pushing forward, there are still two corpses of the ginseng and the military department serving as vegetarians..."

Chen Kuan's summarizing ability is pretty good, and he is equivalent to half a public speaker at this time.

What he said was something the emperor didn't like to hear, but it seemed that these words were what he had to say.

Zhu Youtang coughed twice, as if he deliberately showed it to Chen Kuan, "Look, I'm still sick, right?"

"If Bingkuan doesn't come back, I don't think it's interesting to go to court." Zhu Youtang said, "I want to go out for a walk recently."

Chen Kuan's eyes widened immediately after hearing this.

What is the emperor's state of mind?
"After Bingkuan returned to the court, I told him that I would join him in the expedition to the grassland. I also said that we would set off after the spring. But now it is the time when the spring is warm and the flowers are blooming, but we have not made arrangements yet. " Zhu Youtang said.

Chen Kuan could not object in person, but he reminded him tactfully: "Mr. Cai Guogong is still outside."

"Yes." Zhu Youtang said, "In the past two years, I found that I haven't been together with Bingkuan very often. But even when Bingkuan is not around, the affairs of the court are in order, and it seems that Bingkuan's shadow is involved in everything."

Chen Kuan said: "That's Cai Guogong strategizing."

Zhu Youtang nodded and said: "That's why I want to go out with Bingkuan to have a look. I have seen the map and know that the port is not far away. Also, Bingkuan kept asking me to give the port a name, but I didn't I haven't been there in person, and I don't have a good idea. Then I'll make some arrangements. I'll go to the port for a recent tour to check the progress. By the way... I'll see how far I am in preparing for the Northern Expedition! I want to go to the grassland with Bingkuan soon." (End of this chapter)