The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Zhu Youtang returned to the capital.

He had been waiting for Zhang Zhou to come back, but there was no news of his return. However, he still received sporadic battle reports from Zhang Zhou against the Tatars on the grassland.

When Zhu Youtang arrived in the capital, it was already the third day of April. On that day, almost all the people in the city came out to greet him, and also to see the little Tatar prince Batu Mongke being escorted to the capital. The scene was so lively that even Zhu Youtang, who was on the imperial carriage, was moved.

"Send the captives to Zhengyang Gate." Zhu Youtang said, "I will return to the palace first."

After being away for a long time, Zhu Youtang, as a family-oriented man, still missed his wife and children.

He had always felt that he had become cold towards Empress Zhang, but he still cared about her very much in his heart. Before returning to the palace, he entrusted the matter of presenting the captives to Tang Yin and Wang Qiong so that the military and civilians of the Ming Dynasty could also feel the joy in his heart.

Tang Yin led the team out from Zhengyang Gate.

After stopping at the city gate, Li Dongyang, as the representative of the imperial court to welcome them, ignored Lin Han who was accompanying the Minister of Personnel, and went to meet them alone.

Tang Yin also quickly dismounted and saluted Li Dongyang.

Li Dongyang asked, "Why didn't Zhang Bingkuan come back with us?"

"This……"

Tang Yin thought, I'm standing right in front of them, why is everyone still concerned about Zhang Bingkuan?
Wang Qiong came over and said, "The war on the grassland has not yet completely ended. After this battle, there are still many things to be done. Duke Cai is now in the grassland, and he may be able to return to the capital after a while."

"It's been three months since we went on the expedition..."

Li Dongyang looked slightly worried.

Obviously, in Li Dongyang's view, Zhang Zhou's move was very dangerous. He was just short of telling people directly that there was a rift between him, Zhang Zhou, and the emperor, and that he might even lead his troops in rebellion in the next step.

Tang Yin said, "Your Majesty has already returned to the capital from Deshengmen. Lord Li, I wonder what arrangements should be made next?"

"Don't ask me." Li Dongyang seemed impatient. "Since His Majesty has assigned you to take charge, then you will arrange everything."

After saying this, Li Dongyang ignored the strange looks from Tang Yin and Wang Qiong and walked back to the team of officials.

……

……

The entry ceremony was very lively, and the people lined the streets to welcome the returning soldiers. Tang Yin seemed to have become a national hero, making him feel the glory of being in officialdom.

The emperor issued an edict from the palace that day.

He promoted Tang Yin to the position of Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, bestowed the title of Marquis of Anlu, and granted him many other rewards, including an official residence in the capital, servants, and more than 10,000 taels of silver...

After Tang Yin learned about it, he wanted to go to the palace to express his gratitude, but was stopped by Yang Peng who came to deliver the imperial edict.

"My Lord, you really are...unparalleled in history. You were promoted to marquis in one go, and you are Marquis of Anlu. It's really enviable." Yang Peng said respectfully with a smile.

Tang Yin frowned and said, "Eunuch Yang, as far as I know, the title of Marquis of Anlu was originally given to Wu Fu, a founding hero. Even if his descendants were later stripped of the title, it shouldn't be given to me, right?"

"Who knows?"

Yang Peng smiled and said, "By the way, Lord Marquis, do you know why you were named Marquis of Anlu?"

"This..." Tang Yin certainly didn't know, "Please enlighten me, Eunuch Yang."

Yang Peng waved his hands and said, "Even you don't know, how can we know? His Majesty has just returned to the palace and needs to rest. No one should disturb him. By the way, have you heard? His Majesty sent a secret report to Duke Cai when he was in Weininghai. As for what it said, do you know?"

Tang Yin said: "I don't know."

Yang Peng sighed, "Since that incident, His Majesty has been unhappy. Perhaps His Majesty has made some agreement with Duke Cai. We all want to share His Majesty's worries, but His Majesty won't tell us the details. It's really a pity."

"This regret...where do I start?" Tang Yin felt that Yang Peng's motives were not pure.

Yang Peng just smiled and said nothing more.

……

……

Inside the palace.

Zhu Xiurong came to the banquet, jumping and skipping. Seeing her brother Zhu Houzhao sitting at the table, she ran over and sat down as if to challenge him, saying, "Brother, you don't know, this expedition was so much fun. I went to Maoerzhuang and Weininghai in person. It's a pity that I didn't have the chance to fight on the front line."

Zhu Houzhao rolled his eyes and didn't bother to look at her.

Zhu Xiurong smiled and said, "The scenery of the grassland is really beautiful. If you were there, you would definitely feel it."

"enough."

Empress Zhang couldn't stand it any longer and stopped her daughter's provocation. "Wait for your father to come and have a good meal. You have been so unruly all day. You went out for a while and came back feeling even more unruly."

"Oh." Zhu Xiurong stopped talking, but still looked at her elder brother with a smile.

It seemed that she would not give up until she angered Zhu Houzhao.

……

……

It was very late, but Zhu Youtang still didn't come to Kunning Palace.

In the end, Empress Zhang had no choice but to let the children go back first. She herself was also somewhat depressed. She sent people to the Qianqing Palace several times to inquire about the situation, but did not get any specific answers.

Let's go to the house.

At this time, Zhu Youtang was meeting with the envoy sent back by Zhang Zhou, Sun Shangqi, who is now the pacification envoy of the Northern Pacification Division of the Jinyiwei.

"Your Majesty, Duke Cai has fought against the Tatars more than a dozen times in the past month and has been injured. In addition, Duke Cai requests... to continue to serve the country and lead the troops to fight in Liaodong and the Jurchens' former territory."

Sun Shangqi's words were a little cautious.

He seemed to know that Zhang Zhou's action was a bit risky.

After taking command of the troops, he refused to hand over the military power, which was a bit of a challenge to the emperor's bottom line.

But Zhang Zhou asked him to do so, so he had to obey.

Zhu Youtang asked, "He won't be back for the time being?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," said Sun Shangqi.

"Are the weapons, baggage, food and other things sufficient?" Zhu Youtang asked again.

Sun Shangqi said: "Duke Cai requires that we fight to support the war. The soldiers should solve the problem of rations by themselves, and the rest is just weapons. The soldiers under Duke Cai's command did not bring siege supplies, but only various firearms for field combat. This may be effective in attacking the Jurchens."

"Yeah." Zhu Youtang nodded.

Chen Kuan beside him asked hurriedly: "General Sun, you mean that even if Duke Cai wants to capture the city, he doesn't have the ability, right?"

Zhu Youtang asked angrily, "What do you mean?"

"I deserve to die. I said something out of turn." Chen Kuan quickly shrank his head and stood at the back.

"Let Bingkuan make his own choice." Zhu Youtang said with emotion, "I agreed to let him lead the troops outside, and I said I would respect his choice, and I will not break my promise. He has made such a great contribution, why should I worry about him?"

……

……

After dismissing Sun Shangqi, Zhu Youtang had no thoughts in his mind and just sat there sighing.

At this time, Concubine Xian arrived and brought him ginseng tea.

"Bingkuan said that I should drink less of these things in the future. I am a little weak and cannot take the tonic." Zhu Youtang said, "My beloved concubine, you have worked hard."

The virtuous concubine seemed very well-behaved. She walked over and stood beside Zhu Youtang, but did not say a word.

Zhu Youtang suddenly raised his head, tears welling up in the corners of his eyes, and said, "I couldn't understand before why there was always a gap between the king and his meritorious officials since ancient times, and even the situation where the king and his officials met each other in battle. It turns out that the saying "when the rabbit dies, the dog is cooked, and when the bird is dead, the bow is put away" is never an empty saying. When it comes to power, no one can get over it."

The virtuous concubine still didn't speak.

"Bingkuan's battle showed people that he could pacify the grassland with only 3,000 soldiers. With such a terrifying strength, who would dare to trust him with military power? How can people trust him after he returns to the court?"

Zhu Youtang sighed, "If I were in his position, I would also feel torn, not knowing whether to come back. I would not know how to face my former colleagues, and even how to face me."

Xian Fei asked, "Isn't Mr. Zhang coming back?"

"He will continue to lead the army." Zhu Youtang said, "But I haven't figured out how to get along with him in the future. I have known Bingkuan for four years, and so many things have happened in these four years... Now looking back, the friendship between the monarch and his subjects is no match for the malicious slander of others. In the end... we have to go our separate ways."

Having said this, Zhu Youtang finally couldn't hold back his tears.

"His Majesty……"

The virtuous concubine hurried over and tried to comfort him.

Zhu Youtang wiped his tears and said, "I am still too hypocritical. Bingkuan knows what to do in the future. Even if he and I believe that we will not let each other down in this life, who can guarantee that the officials in the court will not criticize him? What will happen when I am gone for a hundred years?"

Xian Fei said: "Mr. Zhang will not let down your majesty's trust."

"Yes." Zhu Youtang said, "The Crown Prince and Houxuan were both raised by him, just like his own children. How could he betray my trust? But he had no choice. It's just that I hope he can come back soon. Now it seems that this matter is gradually becoming distant." (End of this chapter)