The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Another cold winter has arrived.

It was windy and snowy in the capital. Zhang Zhou was in a private room in the theater, warming himself up and listening to folk songs. With a beautiful woman by his side, he felt very comfortable even when handling some official business.

The emperor didn't bother him, and the ministers in the court wished they didn't see him...

He was also content to be an idler.

That night, it was already the second watch and the show had ended, but Zhu Youtang sent Chen Kuan out of the palace to meet him, and he even went into the private room of his theater in person.

"Eunuch Chen, what a rare guest." Zhang Zhou greeted Chen Kuan with a smile.

Chen Kuan walked over and said with emotion, "I never thought that there is such a hidden world inside this theater. It is indeed a good place for you to hide away in peace and quiet."

Zhang Zhou laughed and said, "How can this be considered as hiding away? I am usually very busy, and His Majesty cannot say that."

"Haha, of course." Chen Kuan seemed very free and easy, and not shy, as if he was an old friend who had known Zhang Zhou for many years.

……

The two sat down.

Chen Kuan said directly, "Your Majesty is here to ask about Tang Yin. You see... you should know about it, right?"

Zhang Zhou said: "I know, he resigned. But I guess it's just talk. As long as Your Majesty rejects it, he should still be in charge of the three border areas."

"You won't change people?" Chen Kuan said, "Don't get me wrong, His Majesty also means that people can't be changed easily, but His Majesty wants to hear your opinion."

Zhang Zhou nodded and said, "Your Majesty really favors me. In fact, Tang Yin's personality is like this. Only if he is urged at all times, he may make achievements. And the previous battle in the north, he returned with a defeat, which may be the best spur for him."

"That means... give him another chance?" Chen Kuan said.

"Yes." Zhang Zhou said, "This winter is also the best time to send troops to the grassland. Tang Yin needs to be the vanguard. Maybe before the end of the year, the order to send troops will be delivered to the three borders... When the spring comes next year, there will be a bigger battle."

"The battle you mentioned..."

"It's hard to explain in detail. Eunuch Chen will report back to His Majesty, and His Majesty will understand."

Zhang Zhou was playing charades in front of Chen Kuan.

Some things had actually been discussed long ago by Zhang Zhou and Zhu Youtang, and there was no need to explain them too clearly to outsiders.

Chen Kuan frowned and said, "Your Majesty is just asking whether that matter is going smoothly. I don't understand what he means. What is it?"

Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "Eunuch Chen, it's not that I'm deliberately hiding something, it's just that some things are hard to answer directly."

"I understand, I understand. If it's inconvenient, or if Your Majesty has given instructions in advance, we will definitely not ask casually. In fact, we are just curious." Chen Kuan said.

Zhang Zhou said: "Although I can't explain it in detail, I can still tell you the general meaning. Your Majesty and I have talked about a project that we have been promoting in the past two years. We want to develop something and mass-produce it in the army. With this thing, pacifying the grassland... will be twice as effective with half the effort."

"There is such a magical thing? Is it more powerful than the current Shenwei Cannon and Tianhuo Powder?" Chen Kuan said in shock.

Zhang Zhou just smiled without saying anything, and shook his head slightly to indicate that he couldn't say anything.

Chen Kuan nodded and said, "The Ming Dynasty cannot survive without you, Lord. If we really have this thing, I think the Ming Dynasty... can eliminate the border threat in the north. So is the progress... going smoothly? After all, His Majesty is waiting for a report."

Zhang Zhou said: "It's going very smoothly. We have already started the stability test. If it goes well, we can demonstrate it publicly in front of Your Majesty before the end of the year. When the spring comes next year, the army will be equipped with a lot of these devices."

"That's fine, that's fine."

Although Chen Kuan was full of doubts at this time, he also understood that Zhang Zhou had another powerful weapon, and it would be best for him not to inquire about such things.

Thinking about the power of the new cannon and new gunpowder developed by Zhang Zhou... and then thinking that Zhang Zhou was researching a weapon that was even more powerful than these two, he felt a chill down his spine.

This is going to happen...

Isn’t the Ming army invincible?
"I'll go back first. Maybe His Majesty hasn't rested yet. It might be a good time to report now. I also want His Majesty to know the good news as soon as possible." Chen Kuan was very tactful and stood up to say goodbye.

……

……

A few days later, the news of Tang Yin's expedition was submitted to Zhu Youtang through secret reports.

It was a memorial Tang Yin wrote specially to the emperor before he set out on his expedition.

In the above, Tang Yin fully expressed his ambition to sacrifice his life for the country, with an attitude of "the wind is whistling and the Yishui River is cold, and the hero will never return once he leaves."

When Chen Kuan read out Tang Yin's military order in person at Zhu Youtang's request, Zhu Youtang just listened in silence for a while, then waved his hand, meaning that he understood and there was no need to say more.

Chen Kuan said, "Your Majesty, Duke Cai mentioned to me that a very powerful divine weapon is about to appear. It seems that this Tang Zhitai is too hasty."

Zhu Youtang frowned and asked, "Did Bingkuan tell you?"

Chen Kuan said hurriedly: "I was curious at the time and wanted Duke Cai to explain my doubts to me... I deserve to die for being too talkative..."

"Don't blame yourself." Zhu Youtang said, "It's not that we can't tell others about this matter, but we're afraid that the Tatars will know about it. But Bingkuan probably won't tell you what it is."

"Yes. Duke Cai only mentioned the point briefly and did not tell me what it was specifically." Chen Kuan said.

Zhu Youtang said, "It's a good time to send troops now. I don't need to give orders. Bingkuan is right, and I am not wrong either. This boy is not a coward. Just by listening to his memorial expressing his determination, I know I have found the right person."

Chen Kuan said: "The previous summer and autumn expeditions yielded no results, and now winter is coming..."

"It's different." Zhu Youtang said with a look of expectation, "Bingkuan said that if the Tatars want to avoid the grassland being annexed by the Ming Dynasty by avoiding war, then they are wishful thinking. As long as the Ming army can march into the grassland at any time, and even take them by surprise in any battle, the Tatars can only passively take the beating."

Chen Kuan nodded and said, "It seems that Governor Tang has managed to catch everyone by surprise."

"Yes." Zhu Youtang nodded, "Not to mention the Tartars, even I did not expect that he would be so determined, even unstoppable."

Chen Kuan smiled bitterly.

I've seen reckless people, but I've never seen one as reckless as this one. Don't you, Tang Yin, have any manners as an official?
Even something like proactively sending troops was done without first reporting to the authorities?

Aren’t you afraid that people in the court will think that you want to lead your troops to surrender to the Tatars?
The three generals of the Ming Dynasty seemed so hasty in sending troops, but the key point is that if you send troops from Yansui, it will take at least more than ten days to encounter the Tatars. Are you really that anxious about everything?

"Then let's do as Bingkuan said and let him march into the grassland and build a road first. Only when there are more roads can the grassland be the territory of the Ming Dynasty. If there are grasslands everywhere and no roads, will the Ming Dynasty's army have to take a road they have never walked on every time they patrol in the future?"

Zhu Youtang stood up.

In Chen Kuan's eyes, the emperor at this time seemed to be full of confidence.

At this moment, Chen Kuan seemed to understand what Zhu Youtang and Zhang Zhou had agreed upon... His Majesty is determined to lead the army in person!
……

……

"Can you say that again."

In the cabinet duty room, Liu Jian seemed incredulous when Cheng Minzheng told him the truth about Tang Yin's military deployment.

Because the memorial impeaching Tang Yin had just been jointly signed and submitted, but at this moment, it was learned that Tang Yin's laxity in military management was actually "pretended". His purpose was to paralyze the Tatars and his own people, and then lead the troops into the grassland in one fell swoop...

Cheng Minzheng said, "It has been twelve days since the troops were dispatched, but it is said that Duke Lian Cheng was not aware of it beforehand. The news did not come out until six days after Tang Yin dispatched his troops."

"What about His Majesty?" Li Dongyang asked from the side.

Cheng Minzheng shook his head, meaning that he was not aware of it.

Liu Jian seemed to be very angry at this time and asked: "The Shangting Office is responsible for the military affairs of the Ming Dynasty. Could it be that you are also ignorant of the news of the three borders sending troops? How do you do your job?"

This is like attacking Cheng Minzheng, saying that the group of people led by Cheng Minzheng are incompetent.

Cheng Minzheng said: "The dispatch of troops was not ordered by the court. Even if it was, it should have been ordered directly by His Majesty or the Ministry of War. His Majesty has not attended court for a long time. This concerns military and political affairs. The cabinet is unaware of it, and the upper court is naturally unaware of it."

Li Dongyang hurriedly said: "Keqin, there is no need to argue, it is better to listen carefully."

Perhaps Li Dongyang also noticed Cheng Minzheng's rebellious mentality.

Why do you, Liu Jian, have the nerve to blame me and the ministers behind me when you don’t know the truth yourself?
Wang Ao on the side said: "From what I have seen, perhaps the court did not issue any military orders, but Tang Yin decided to send troops on his own, otherwise he would not have seemed to be in despair for a while. He clearly planned this in advance."

Wang Ao was still somewhat proud of this matter.

Look at the students I selected in Jiangnan...

Zhang Zhou, the first place winner, and Tang Yin, the second place winner, are now more awesome than the other. I originally thought that I had misjudged Tang Yin, but who knew that this fellow likes to play dirty just like his senior brother, and actually made a sneak attack?

Your position in the court, Tang Yin, is not as high as your senior brother's, but you play more extravagantly than your senior brother.

Liu Jian was so angry that his whole body was shaking.

It's not that Tang Yin's going to the war was unacceptable... The key point was that he didn't expect Tang Yin to send troops, so now that the impeachment memorial had been submitted, he was told at this time that the impeachment of Tang Yin for being cowardly and incompetent... was all due to their short-sightedness and was completely false.

Isn't this just a slap in his face?

Just when Liu Jian didn't even know how to comment on this matter, Li Dongyang seemed calm and said, "This matter is still under discussion. If we rashly send troops in the cold winter, I'm afraid it won't go smoothly. It's better to wait and see what happens."

Liu Jian couldn't help but look at Li Dongyang.

He seemed to understand why Li Dongyang had spoken for Tang Yin before.

It’s not that Tang Yin is useless, but that Tang Yin has a very strange potential, which is different from the ministers in the court. And before, this potential only existed in Zhang Zhou.

If one wants to check and balance Zhang Zhou, or even defeat Zhang Zhou, perhaps one must have someone with special potential like Tang Yin.

……

……

After Cheng Minzheng and Wang Ao went out.

Li Dongyang also tried to guide Liu Jian and proposed some solutions.

"After all, Tang Yin did not make this clear to the court. Even if the content of the impeachment was biased, it was not exaggerated. It cannot be said that his previous behavior was forbearance. It was more like he neglected military affairs because he saw no hope."

Liu Jian asked, "How could you have guessed that he had a backup plan?"

Li Dongyang said: "I can't describe it either. This man... has an evil aura about him. I told you before that he is different from any other minister in the court."

"What kind of evil spirit?" Liu Jian asked.

"I can't explain it." Li Dongyang thought about it and shook his head. "You can probably understand Tang Bohu by seeing what Zhang Bingkuan does every day. They both seem to have no interest in government affairs, but they mess around in the court. They both seem to be indifferent to the world, but they also fight fiercely... You don't know whether they are pretending or if it is their nature."

Liu Jian said: "Don't fight..."

Obviously, from Liu Jian's perspective, he cannot understand this mentality.

Li Dongyang sighed, "Maybe they have extraordinary abilities, but they also want to devote themselves to nature. However, due to circumstances, some people cannot leave the court. Just like Zhang Bingkuan, even if he wants to leave, His Majesty will not let him go. After all, he is a Taoist practitioner."

Liu Jian said coldly: "I never consider Zhang Bingkuan as a Taoist."

"Of course." Li Dongyang said, "He passed the imperial examination. Although he didn't even take the Tongsheng examination, he still passed the provincial examination, the metropolitan examination, and the palace examination step by step, so he is one of our literati. Zhongtang, you are right to ask him to be a civil official."

"Tang Yin...how should we deal with it?" Liu Jian didn't want to discuss Zhang Zhou's merits and demerits with Li Dongyang.

He now wanted to know how to solve Tang Yin's problem first.

Now that the impeachment has already taken place, if the matter is exposed, the group of people in the court who jointly impeached him will be in disgrace.

He is leading his troops to war and has only been hiding for a few days, and you are already impatient to impeach him, just like a clown, as if you can't wait even a moment?
Li Dongyang said: "The criticisms against him by the court were from the memorial submitted by the Northwest Supervisory Censor. Logically speaking, they are not exaggerated at all."

Liu Jian said: "It just makes people laugh."

Li Dongyang said helplessly: "What can we do? Once the arrow is shot, there is no turning back. Tang Yin... still needs to be impeached. After all, he did not follow the rules and rashly sent troops, which is also a taboo. If there is an accident and the three border passes are in danger, he cannot bear the responsibility."

The impeachment should still be carried out, but from a different angle.

You can't say Tang Yin is cowardly...

No cowardly person would be like Tang Yin, who would send out troops as soon as he said so, without even caring about his retreat.

Especially the future of being an official in the court...

This is waiting to be impeached and to be unacceptable to the world.

The determination is unprecedented...

Liu Jian said: "Compared to Tang Yin, Wang Boan may be a little stronger..."

Liu Jian had disliked Wang Shouren before, but now, when he compared him with Tang Yin, he suddenly felt that Wang Shouren was much more pleasing to his eyes.

Wang Shouren smiled and said, "Then talk to Dehui. There is no overnight hatred. It is better to use Bo'an than Bo'hu." (End of this chapter)