King Xiang of the Red Chamber

Chapter 464
  The reason why he kept a low profile was because he rose through the ranks too quickly and had too little foundation compared to those older nobles, so he was particularly jealous.

Only he knew that after he was promoted to the chief military officer of the Beijing camp, he was impeached by many people, and he was able to get to the point every time.

And this was only possible because of His Majesty the Emperor's trust and his disregard for impeachment.

At this time, he was expressing his views on the situation in the northwest to the emperor, and thinking about the emperor's purpose of summoning him alone.

Now on the ground in the northwest, leaving aside the northern battlefield, the troops on the southern front are a mixed bag.

There are a lot of troops drawn from the capital camp, local capital divisions, Xingdu divisions, as well as Tibetan chieftains, Mongolian tribes and alliances, and Jurchens.

If you want to form a unified command and dispatch, you must have a heavyweight general to lead the troops, at least a commander or above, and it is best to send a commander to hold the battle.

After listening to Ning Huanxiang's simple analysis, Zhu Xianming on the throne asked calmly: "Is Aiqing... almost fifty this year?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, I will be forty-nine in May this year!"

Zhu Xianming asked with a smile: "You have been serving in the Governor's Mansion of the Fifth Army for several years, but now you can still ride a horse and draw a bow?"

Just hearing this sentence, Ning Huanxiang was sure of the emperor's intention, so he replied: "Although I am in the office and doing errands, I don't dare to forget about bowing and horses, so I practice it from time to time... It's just that I'm worse than other superior officials." Far!"

Those who can be called Shangguan by Ning Huanxiang are the commanders of the Fifth Army. Even now, Ning Huanxiang still does not forget to praise these people.

Of course, he was not doing this just for flattery, but to remind the emperor that there were governors on the scene, and there was no need for him to get involved in the northwest.

"I just heard what you said, and I have a good understanding of the situation in the northwest. I am very pleased..."

When an official reaches the level of Governor and Vice-President, all aspects must be paid attention to. The situation in the northwest is now the most important matter for the imperial court, so Ning Huanxiang naturally wants to know more about it.

"You are asked to preside over the northwest war. Are you capable of doing the job?" Zhu Xianming asked solemnly.

"Your Majesty, the war in the northwest is of great importance. I think that the troops should be led by important ministers and veteran generals, so that everything can be guaranteed. However, I have only limited qualifications and limited talents. I am really afraid of missing out on your Majesty's important event!"

In fact, although going to the northwest to lead troops is a prestigious job, because it is too important to tolerate mistakes, the current governors are reluctant to go.

It's good to run an errand beautifully, but once it's done badly, you'll be in big trouble...

For this matter, Zhu Xianming had already asked three people to question him, each of whom he thought was a suitable candidate, but all three declined due to physical discomfort or other reasons.

That's why Zhu Xianming found Ning Huanxiang, a man with solid military exploits and sufficient abilities who was qualified for the governor's mission to the northwest.

"Aiqing's qualifications are indeed a bit low, so I plan to give you a promotion and let you serve as the right commander of the Central Military Governor's Mansion!"

The current Commander-in-Chief of the Chinese Army, Right Commander Shen Zheng, is already sixty-three years old and has indeed reached the age where he should retire.

This also means that the following ten governors and magistrates are all eyeing this position, and it is unlikely that Ning Huanxiang can win over the others.

He and the emperor have a relationship of monarch and minister, and the same is true for others who can get into this position.

And the sooner you sit in that position, the more opportunities you will have in the future, such as raising your title to a higher level.

So at this moment, when the emperor extended an olive branch, Ning Huanxiang became a little uneasy.

"I served as the Governor-General in the autumn of the eighth year of Zhengtong. It has not been four years yet... I am afraid that it is against the rules of the imperial court to be qualified for the post of Governor!"

Knowing what Ning Huanxiang was thinking, Zhu Xianming picked up the tea cup and took a sip, and then said slowly: "My words are the rules!"

"I just want you to think hard about whether you are qualified for the job I have given you!"

No one dares to claim victory in a war. Ning Huanxiang thought for a while and replied: "If your Majesty sends his ministers to fight in the northwest, I must go all out to bring peace to your Majesty!"

Although the situation in the northwest is serious now, compared with the wars fought by Zhu Xianming during Shizu's Jingnan period and even during the Taiping years, it can only be said that the scale is okay.

Therefore, although there are risks, Ning Huanxiang is at least [-]% sure that he can rely on the existing troops to kill Junggar.

So Zhu Xianming then asked: "Tell me your plan!"

After a while of silence, Ning Huanxiang said: "I think that I should transfer the Qinghai Xingdu Secretary and..."

Zhu Xianming is also an expert in military affairs. He only heard the initial part of Ning Huanxiang's plan and knew that the other party's style was to attack steadily.

This is also in line with Ning Huanxiang's personal temperament. After half an hour, Zhu Xianming heard the plan, and he could only say that he was basically satisfied with it.

Now, it was time for him to make a decision, either to choose Ning Huanxiang to go to the northwest, or to choose one of the three existing governors to go.

"Ai Qing, please go back first!"

"Yes... Weichen resigns!"

Military and national affairs must be carefully considered. This is not only a military issue, but also a political consideration.

To constantly renew the blood of nobles, it is very important to promote new nobles... Zhu Xianming thought of this.

When several people are suitable, when this idea comes to his mind, the result is already very clear.

"Send my will..."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Ying, who was waiting on the side, immediately bowed down to listen. He would have to arrange matters such as delivering the edict for a while, which also exercised his good memory.

"Awarded to General Ning Huanxiang Zhaowu, he was appointed as the Right Commander of the Central Military Governor's Mansion. He was ordered to be the governor of the northwest military, and to guard the troops stationed in the northwest, including the Jingying, Dusi, Xingdusi and other troops participating in the war!"

In the current situation in the northwest, almost one-eighth of the imperial court's troops have been assembled, which is already a very terrifying force.

Ning Huanxiang will be the person in charge of this force, but he doesn't know all this at the moment because he is talking to Zhu Jinghong.

Zhu Jinghong accompanied the prince into Kunning Palace, and then he went into the small Buddhist hall alone, apparently to complain to his old mother.

Impeachments continued in the court, and three more officials from the prince's line were demoted.

Now Shui Rong is still under house arrest. Seeing that Lao Liu intends to implicate him, the prince is worried and can only ask the queen for help.

"General Ning, it's rare to see you go to Qianqing Palace. I think your Majesty will be of great use to you!" Zhu Jinghong asked straightforwardly.

In the northwest, Gansu Dusi is currently responsible for coordinating the army. This does not look like the structure of a decisive battle, so the court must select suitable generals to go into battle.

Zhu Jinghong paid special attention to the high-ranking officials the emperor met these days. After all, it was related to his next plan.

Ning Huanxiang replied calmly: "I just asked for my opinion on the northwest. I have very little knowledge... I'm afraid it will be difficult for Your Majesty to put him to good use!"

"General, why should you be so humble? No one in the army knows that you started your career with military exploits!"

Having said this, Zhu Jinghong patted Ning Huanxiang on your shoulder, and then said: "If my father doesn't use you, then he really doesn't know people well!"

Although he knew what kind of person Zhu Jinghong was, Ning Huanxiang still felt that it was outrageous when he heard his false remarks that the emperor did not know people well.

But he could only pretend not to hear, and talked useless nonsense to Zhu Jinghong, and the two of them walked out of the palace together.

In fact, Zhu Jinghong knew that Ning Huanxiang's qualifications were somewhat inferior, so he did not put much hope in Ning Huanxiang's appointment as the governor of the northwest. He was just a familiar face.

…………

On April [-]th of the twelfth year of Zhengtong, the imperial court officially issued an edict. Ning Huanxiang made a strong counterattack and became the popular governor of the northwest. The three people who couldn't resist going were a little annoyed at the moment, because they didn't want to go, but wanted the emperor to "force" them to go.

In this way, even if the northwest war goes unfavorably, they can still bargain with the emperor.

If they win, they have good command, and if they lose, they blame the emperor for forcing them onto the battlefield. In this way, they will be invincible.

However, in the end, Ning Huanxiang was promoted to pick peaches, which made their plan come to nothing, and the three of them were sulking in the house.

At the same time, the emperor also appointed Liang Qian, the deputy capital envoy, and Huang Qing, the eunuch in charge of the imperial supervision, as supervisors, which was equivalent to establishing a check and balance team in the northwest.

The deputy capital imperial envoy Liang Qian had been recommended by the prince and had some background in the Eastern Palace. His appointment as the supervisor would have some influence on the court situation.

In the past few days, the fight between the Crown Prince and Prince Rui has implicated many officials, from the court to the local level.

Of course, none of this has anything to do with Sun Shaozu. At this moment, he is wrapped in joy.

Prince Xiang's Mansion has sent someone to tell him that he will follow Zhu Jinghong to the northwest in a few days. What he has been thinking about day and night has come true.

So this guy immediately packed up and planned to go to Prince Xiang's Mansion to thank him. After all, Zhu Jinghong was his only chance to recover.

When Sun Shaozu came to the outside of Prince Xiang's Mansion with a shy face, he happened to meet Zhu Jinghong who was about to go out, so he immediately greeted him.

"Your Majesty, Sun Shaozu, pays homage to the prince!" Sun Shaozu stood at the foot of the steps and saluted respectfully.

Zhu Jinghong came down slowly with a riding whip. Today he was going to go to the flag-bearer guard and select two hundred people from among them to be the guard.

These guards from the palace would not go with him to the northwest this time, so he had to choose new ones.

After walking down the steps, Zhu Jinghong said slowly: "Did you get the news?"

Sun Shaozu followed Zhu Jinghong with his waist bent, and said slowly: "I just got the news, thinking that this is the prince's grace, I came to express my gratitude immediately!"

"Okay, I understand what you mean, go back!" Zhu Jinghong said calmly.

"Your Majesty, are you going out? I am willing to wait on you from behind!"

"What can you serve?" Zhu Jinghong asked with a smile.

Sun Shaozu's mind was running rapidly, and he soon thought of a way. He walked to the black wind side of the BMW and lay directly on the ground the next moment.

"Your Majesty, please mount your horse!" Sun Shaozu bowed his strong back.

I have to say that Sun Shaozu's lack of lower limit really surprised Zhu Jinghong.

Anyone with no lower limit can use it as long as they have the ability, and sometimes it is even easier to use... Zhu Jinghong thought this way.

"From now on, just do things in a good life, there is no need to do these empty things...get up!" Zhu Jinghong said calmly.

"It's... Your Majesty's teachings, I must remember them!"

Then Zhu Jinghong didn't say much, got on his horse and whipped away. Sun Shaozu watched him disappear at the end of the long street, and then turned around and left Prince Xiang's Mansion.

He was in a particularly good mood today, having swept away the gloomy clouds of the past, so he planned to go to a brothel to have fun.

From being dismissed from office to now, he has never really relaxed. Even on his wedding night, he was thinking about his future.

Thinking of his wedding night, he thought of Xia Jingui, secretly sighing that this woman was indeed useful, and she fulfilled his wish through the relationship with the Xia family.

"If I had known earlier, I should have married her sister!" Sun Shaozu was quite disappointed.

When Sun Shaozu was looking for a place, he happened to meet Jia Lian, and the two sat down together at the latter's invitation.

After all, he and Rong Guogong were considered family friends. Sun Shaozu had also sought help from the Jia family before, but nothing happened in the end.

After getting what he wanted today, how could he not show off so that this so-called noble family could see that he could get along well without relying on them.

However, Sun Shaozu's bragging words made Jia Lian feel a little unbalanced.

He was from a much better background than Sun Shaozu and was about the same age, but he was still working as a guard in the palace.
  But as for Sun Shaozu, not only had he served as a real-power commander before, but after he was dismissed from office, he got in touch with Zhu Jinghong through his wife and ushered in an opportunity for recovery.

Compared with others, his so-called noble son really seems to be too useless.

Therefore, even though Sun Shaozu had invited this drink, it still made Jia Lian extremely uncomfortable. In the end, he found an excuse to leave without even doing anything about it.

After returning home drunk, Jia Lian was about to lie down on the bed and rest, but Wang Xifeng came over again, obviously dissatisfied with him going out to drink wine.

"Second Master is so excited!" Wang Xifeng stood beside the bed with a very ugly look on her face.

Glancing at Wang Xifeng, Jia Lian felt angry for no reason, and said dissatisfiedly: "I just went out to drink with friends, don't be so weird here!"

"If you have time to trouble me, you might as well do your own thing first!"

People who had done bad things actually dared to accuse themselves, which made Wang Xifeng even more angry.

"What do you mean by that? I have taken care of both the east and west houses, and the people in the house don't praise me for being smart and capable?" Wang Xifeng asked bluntly.

Hearing this, Jia Lian jumped up from the bed, pointed at Wang Xifeng and scolded: "Damn... this is what I don't like to hear the most!

"East and West, East and West... You always think about others praising you for your ability, but have you ever thought about planning for our little family?"

"Sun Shaozu, who came to our house to ask for support, took the daughter of the Osmanthus Xia family and directly became involved with Princess Xiang. Now he can seek revenge..."

"Looking at you, do you know how much benefit you are getting for yourself and me by spending time in this little place in the house?"

Jia Lian's accusation was so full of his true feelings that it made Wang Xifeng reflect on himself.

However, when she returned to Prince Xiang's Mansion, she thought of her meeting with Zhu Jinghong a few days ago. Afterwards, she was sure that she had been scorned by this man.

Thinking of the other party's actions that day, Wang Xifeng felt ashamed and annoyed, so much so that her face turned red.

"Are you aware of the red face? Are you aware that you have made a mistake?" Jia Lian was somewhat unreasonable at this time.

"You have no ability yourself, but you blame me!" Wang Xifeng has such a strong temper, how can he bow to Jia Lian at this moment.

What's more, she herself felt that it was only Jia Lian's fault that he was incompetent and could not even hold an official position with the help of the prince.

So the couple quarreled for a while, and finally broke up on bad terms.

Jia Lian went to sleep by himself, while Wang Xifeng sat in the outer hall and sulked, while also thinking about Jia Lian's words.

Although she was blaming Jia Lian for his incompetence, Wang Xifeng herself had to admit that the prince and Yuanchun couple were indeed unreliable, and they had not said anything about supporting the Jia family for so long.

Since the East Palace cannot be counted on for the time being, it becomes a good option to make good friends with Prince Xiang's Mansion.

Yuanchun is Baoyu's biological sister. If she becomes the queen's uncle, it won't be her turn to be the second master. It's still unclear who will own the Rongguo Mansion in the future. I should indeed get some benefits for my family... Wang Xifeng thought carefully.

I really should visit Prince Xiang's Mansion more often. After all, the princess is my cousin. Am I still no match for those outsiders from the Xia family?
  (End of this chapter)