The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

In the Duanjing Hall of the Imperial Palace, Zhu Houzhao was sitting there sulking.

They were so angry that they refused to eat. The eunuchs came in several times to urge them, but Zhu Houzhao ignored them. In the end, the group of people could only stand by and wait with their bowls and plates of food in their hands.

Gao Feng walked over and tried to persuade him, "Your Highness, after lunch, you still have to go to Wenhua Palace to study. You have to go today. Even if His Majesty is not in the palace, the Queen is still here. The Queen has sent people to inquire about your studies in the past two days."

"I was raised by a stepmother, right?" Zhu Houzhao suddenly asked.

This frightened Gao Feng and the others greatly. Gao Feng said in a panic, "Your Highness, please be careful with your words."

Zhu Houzhao said: "Do you think I am angry here because I cannot leave the palace and my father does not take me on tour?"

A group of eunuchs looked at each other, and they were all thinking, isn't it?
Zhu Houzhao sneered, "My knowledge is not so shallow. If I go to the port with my father, it will be like putting all my eggs in one basket. I can wait for him to come back and then leave the palace on my own."

Gao Fengxin thought, you really have a brilliant idea.

Why does it sound so ridiculous?
Zhu Houzhao slammed the table with a "bang" sound, which scared the people around him.

"Am I so angry that I can't leave the palace? I'm angry at that bastard Liu Jin. He claims to have inherited my true teachings, but this time I sent him to the northwest to lead the troops, and he actually made me lose face. Let's see how I'm going to deal with him when he comes back!" Zhu Houzhao was so angry that he gritted his teeth.

The eunuchs behind him were a little confused.

You can't leave the palace unless you are angry, and you are actually angry with Liu Jin?
What merits and abilities did Liu Jin have that the prince cared so much about him? Just listening to this... makes people really envious.

Gao Feng said, "Your Highness, have you heard any rumors? It seems that no one has spread the news here recently. Could it be that you... heard it wrongly?"

Zhu Houzhao glared at Gao Feng and said, "If I count on you guys, I will close my eyes and ears and ignore what's happening outside. You mediocre people! I already know that Liu Jin was transferred to Huamachi. It was obvious that the Tatars were attacking Huamachi. He had more than 10,000 elite soldiers under his command, but he only sent 4,000 soldiers. They were surrounded by the Tatars, and the Tatars killed all his soldiers without leaving a single piece of armor."

"Your Highness, we can't use it like this without leaving any trace of armor." Gao Feng reminded.

"Hmph, was I wrong? He was so defeated that he lost all his armor and weapons. I was so embarrassed! I was hoping that he could perform well so that I could participate in the war with the Tatars while I was in the capital, but he turned out to be so incompetent! If I had known earlier, I should have asked my father to replace him with someone else so that he would not be embarrassed."

Zhu Houzhao spoke angrily with an expression of regret on his face.

Gao Feng and others were also thinking that Liu Jin was so bold that a eunuch like us, who was just a servant, dared to command a battle on the battlefield?
This bastard doesn't know his own weight and dares to call himself the commander-in-chief. Now he knows that the Tartars are not simple, right?
Let you show off, now let’s see if you can save your life!

Gao Feng said: "Even if Eunuch Liu made a mistake in the northwest, it shouldn't affect your meal. Your Highness, you are growing up, you can't skip meals."

"Can I eat it?" Zhu Houzhao said, "No, I have to do something! Later, you can take my plan to the people in the upper court. If they refuse to listen, tell them that Your Majesty is not here and I am the regent. I have the right to worry about the affairs of the northwest. Let them withdraw quickly and use the cannon to clear the way in front."

Gao Feng said with a wronged look on his face: "Your Highness, is it too late to send a message from the capital to the northwest?"

Zhu Houzhao said, "Then let this bastard continue to embarrass me? Bring me the pen, ink, paper and inkstone, and tell the teachers in the East Palace that I have important things to do today and don't have time to listen to their lectures. But I won't slack off on my studies, and I'll make up for it later! I want to help the border soldiers of the Ming Dynasty turn the tide."

……

……

Zhu Houzhao became a military strategist and concentrated on writing his marching strategy. He even drove out the eunuchs who served him, nominally so that they would not disturb him from performing his duties.

Gao Feng went in to serve tea, but was also shouted at and scolded out.

When Gao Feng came out, he saw Qiu Ju and others staring at him, with confusion in their eyes.

"Eunuch Gao, what's going on? We don't know the situation in the court, so why did Liu Jin go to the northwest to lead the troops? Whether the northwest wins or loses, what does it have to do with Liu Jin?"

A group of people gathered around, asking questions in a flurry of voices.

Gao Feng said, "The Duke of Ying was transferred back to the capital, and the passerby from Huamachi in Ningxia was left without a commander. Originally, His Majesty wanted to transfer the Marquis of Pinglu, but he was unable to arrive in time due to some matters, which gave Liu Jin the opportunity to command the three armies."

Luo Xiang asked, "Marquis Pinglu? Is he the Ma Yi who was once nearly killed because of a crime, but later made many military achievements under the promotion of Duke Cai?"

Gao Feng sighed, "Who else could it be if not him? Although he has bad behavior, he is a good fighter. He fought bravely in the northwest several times, either under the command of Duke Cai or the Earl of Xinjian."

"Liu Jin deserves to die. He dared to lead his troops to fight without knowing his own weight. He deserves it!"

"Yes, you deserve it!"

The eunuchs in the Eastern Palace had long regarded Liu Jin as an invisible threat.

It was also because Liu Jin was so favored in the past that Zhu Houzhao treated Liu Jin as a confidant, which made other eunuchs envious.

"Eunuch Gao, you said that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince wants to help Liu Jin make amends this time. Is there still a chance?"

"No chance." Gao Feng said, "He deserves to die after losing the battle. His Majesty will not let him go. Liu Jin has offended many people, and the civil officials in the court also regard him as a thorn in their eyes. From now on, you just have to pretend that he doesn't exist!"

"Haha, that's a good feeling."

"Eunuch Gao, we'll go get some work done. Please stay here and help. If you have anything to say, just let me know."

……

……

Liu Jin's defeat in the northwest was a happy event worthy of universal celebration for many people in the capital.

But Zhang Mao had felt that he would be implicated, so he was also concerned about the direction of things.

That day Zhang Mao sent people out to gather information again. Zhong Decai brought a few people from the mansion and visited many government offices in the Governor's Office. They even asked people to inquire at the Ministry of War. Only after they had asked almost everything did Zhong Decai hurried back to report to Zhang Mao.

The study of the British Duke's Palace.

When Zhang Mao saw Zhong Decai, he asked anxiously, "Are the rumors true?"

Zhong Decai said, "The news we received earlier is true. But I think His Majesty is not going to vent his anger on others. I heard that even the troops of General Wang were stopped by the Tatars. This time the Tatars are coming with great force. The situation of the war should be irreversible."

Zhang Mao's face showed no joy or sadness, and he asked in a cold voice: "How are Liu Jing's affairs after his death?" Zhong Decai said helplessly: "My Lord, you are still thinking about that? After Anyuan Hou died, the court did not investigate his family's crimes. I'm afraid it won't be that easy to convict his family members."

Zhang Mao said angrily: "Who do you think I am? I am just expressing my condolences."

"Ahem." Zhong Decai almost bit his tongue.

He was thinking, you killed someone on the way, and you still care about his family after you come back? You even want to offer condolences? No one would believe you!
Zhang Mao said, "The Tartars are using cannons this time. The previous incident of Ningxia's cannons being stolen will definitely be used to make a fuss. This incident must be pushed onto Liu Jing, saying that he failed to supervise the battle. Then find someone to spread rumors, saying that I worked hard and made great contributions. I was very careful in my defense at Huamachi, so the Tartars had no choice but to use the strategy of luring the tiger away from the mountain."

Zhong Decai said, "Sir, I'm afraid it's inappropriate to say that. Isn't that the same as admitting that you fell into the trap of the Tatars?"

Zhang Mao said angrily: "Then let's say that the Tatars divided their forces to attack, and I led the troops without fear of the enemy, running around everywhere, and Liu Jing, who stayed behind, messed up everything!"

"Sir, is this okay?" Zhong Decai said, "No one wants to hold us accountable now. It's the fault of the soldiers left behind in Huamachi, so why should we confess?"

Zhang Mao said, "This is to be prepared for any eventuality. I will let Zhang Bingkuan go. He is too unconventional in his work. Who knows who he will target this time? The civil officials in the court will definitely target the Ministry of War. Logically, Zhang Bingkuan will also be in a lot of trouble. If he wants to shirk responsibility, it would be best to push the responsibility onto me."

Zhong Decai said: "Then let's impeach him in advance."

"Are you looking for death?" Zhang Mao was furious at first, then he said with a little fear in his eyes, "Why are you impeaching him? He was able to make the Ming Dynasty station heavy troops in Huamachi, and the Tartars came from Huamachi. His words can be said to have blinded the emperor's ears. Isn't impeaching him the same as looking for death?"

Zhong Decai thought to himself, you are just a coward and refuse to admit it.

“I must not let the people in the cabinet or the six ministries push the responsibility onto me this time. See who among the censors is willing to speak for me, and give them some benefits secretly. Don’t give them gold or silver, which are too conspicuous. You can help them publish a collection of essays, or find something suitable... In short, I want them to speak for me, and also ask them to keep an eye on me. If there is any movement among the civil officials, report it to me as soon as possible.” Zhang Mao’s state at this moment was as if a disaster was imminent.

Zhong Decai said: "Sir, what you asked me to do before..."

"Stop for a moment!" Zhang Mao sighed, "It's already late, let's settle the Northwest first. The rest can be done slowly. If the Tartars withdraw this time, perhaps the power structure in the Governor's Office will be re-divided. At that time, I may be held responsible, but it may also be an opportunity. Some things cannot be resolved without change."

……

……

Zhang Zhou is about to set out from Binhai City and return to Beijing.

Before leaving, he naturally had to get together with Ning Tong. After all, they were still "newlyweds". Ning Tong's reaction to Zhang Zhou's departure was normal, as if she had never taken marriage seriously.

The once serious wife of Marquis Anbian took the initiative to leave the cage, and now it is just a matter of changing the cage.

"It will be the day after tomorrow. I probably won't come tomorrow." Zhang Zhou said, "I am going back to the capital with the emperor. In addition, the virtuous concubine will stay here. Although you are no longer responsible for taking care of her, you can visit her from time to time and chat with her from time to time. But don't go too often."

Ning Tong said nothing and silently poured tea for Zhang Zhou.

"You've seen theaters and other things, what kind of business do you plan to run?" Zhang Zhou asked.

"Let's go to the theater." Ning Tong said, "I heard that the master has some good actors in the theater in the capital, some of whom are from foreign countries. Why not send them here?"

Zhang Zhou smiled and didn't explain further.

Ning Tong said: "The master has long regarded them as his own property, and some of them are just his companions."

Zhang Zhou said: "This is not what you should say."

Ning Tong speaks according to her status and it is obvious that she still cannot fully understand her position.

"Has the war in the northwest been resolved? Will the master go to the northwest to lead the troops?" Ning Tong asked.

Zhang Zhou said: "Don't worry, the war in the northwest will not extend to the vicinity of the capital, and there will be a result in the next few days. The purpose of the Tatars' invasion is to plunder, and the purpose of our border soldiers is also to block their retreat. It's just that there are still some obstacles, but everything is under control."

Ning Tong nodded and said, "I am also concerned about you, Master."

"You should take care of yourself more." Zhang Zhou said, "I don't know when I will be able to come back next time. I will have someone send you to Beijing in a few days to sort out the business over there. I will see you then."

There is no need for Ning Tong to enter the Zhang Mansion, but the two of them cannot be separated for a long time.

Ning Tong nodded to show that she understood.

"I still have something to tell you. Please clean up the table first. I've said a lot. Write it all down. You are the only one of my family members who is working. I don't trust others with some things, so I'd better leave it to you."

……

……

In the capital, at Lin Han’s residence.

Shen Lu came to visit in person. As soon as he saw Lin Han, he pulled Lin Han into the study mysteriously and asked, "Mr. Lin, have you heard? The Northwest may experience a defeat."

Lin Han asked, "So what? Do you have people in the northwest?"

Shen Lu shook his head and said, "It's not my people. I just want to ask, this matter will not have any impact on the Duke of Cai, right?"

"What's the relationship between you and Duke Cai?" Lin Han frowned.

In Lin Han's opinion, Shen Lu was making a fuss out of nothing.

What does the war in the northwest have to do with you, a envoy of the Ministry of Public Security? It's as if the Tatars have come to the foot of the capital, and everyone is worried about their future.

Shen Lu said, "Mr. Lin, you don't know that I am not very capable in Beijing. All I do is run errands and pass messages. The interpersonal relationship structure in the capital has a great impact on me if it changes slightly. The Northwest has been victorious in the past few years. Suddenly, there is a defeat. I don't know how many people will lose their jobs and how many people will be held accountable. This makes me panic."

Lin Han said coldly: "It seems that your connections have never been with the Ministry of War, right?"

What this means is that you are a member of the external relative party, and it doesn't make much sense for you to care about the overall changes in the court.

Shen Lu said: "It is because many new nobles now want to use my connections to get ahead. Old Lin, I told you before that the one who wants to marry you has someone in the northwest... The network of connections in the capital is really not something that can be explained in just a few words." (End of this chapter)