Ping An Biography

A few days before returning to Changde City for the first time, in addition to preparing for the Northern Expedition, there was another extremely difficult problem: prisoners of war.More than [-] officers and soldiers participated in the Battle of Yuanshui. Most of them were not killed on the battlefield. After the army collapsed, some surrendered and some fled north. However, once the main road was blocked, most of them Where can I escape to?

The large-scale massacre of prisoners was the first to be rejected. This method was contrary to what the Suzaku Army usually said.The officials of the Senate Department were very divided. Some suggested that a large number of captives be incorporated into the Suzaku Army, because the army was short of soldiers; He may be re-recruited by the Wuchang garrison soon, and become a resistance to the Suzaku army's march into Wuchang.

Zhang Ning failed to come up with a decision. He needs to wait for his staff to debate. After a group of people debates, right and wrong may be more secure than a single person's arbitrary decision. The ancients also said that "listening to both sides will make you bright, and listening to one side will make you dark."

He didn't leave the Senate until dusk that day and headed for the house.It seems that there was no large-scale burning, killing and looting after the official army occupied Changde City before. Everything here has not changed much. The Senate Office, which used to be a warehouse, can still be used, and the scenery on the road remains the same.

As soon as he returned home, he learned that Yao Ji was going to summon him, so Zhang Ning went straight to the garden.This place used to be a garden, and later it was also a tea garden, with many pavilions, pavilions, mountains, rivers and trees. [

Walking in front of Yao Ji's house, he saw the presence of the four "protectors" in the hall of the main entrance, and many white-clothed sword attendants, all of whom were leaders of the main altar of the evil cult.For a while, Zhang Ning probably understood that Yao Ji came to him today for the reorganization of the cult; because Zhang Ning had mentioned before that the stage of using religion to riot had passed, and keeping the existence of the cult now would cause A crooked reputation.

Everyone in the hall saluted Zhang Ning one after another. He nodded in response, but Yao Ji was not seen on the left and right, and she was not in the hall.Sure enough, Chunmei said at this time: "The leader is in the study inside, waiting to see the prince." Zhang Ning went out from the back door of the hall and went straight along the corridor.Yao Ji lived here for half a year before, and it wasn't the first time he came here.

As soon as she entered the study, she saw Yao Ji receiving three sticks of burning incense from her valet and putting them in an incense burner.On the front wall is a divine cage enshrining an exquisite jade Buddha statue, as big as a three-year-old child, and the whole jade carving must be of great value.

"Why does the concubine respect the Buddha?" Zhang Ning said, clasping his hands behind him.

Yao Ji turned to look at him and said, her face still had that kind of gentle expression that seemed to be a smile but not a smile: "In the future, I won't pay for the gods. The Dongxue Hujiao in the sect happens to believe in Buddhism. If I donate this Buddha statue, I will give it to you." It is enshrined."

Hearing these words, Zhang Ning already understood that the "leader" had agreed and persuaded the followers to accept Zhang Ning's opinion to reorganize the cult.

The evil religion is indeed not a real religion, it is just a patchwork of teachings, and it respects the "God", a god born in the Central Plains; but there are people below who blatantly believe in Buddhism, and the Buddha is an Indian plated The god of coming is obviously different from the gods of the Three Emperors and Five Emperors... It can be seen that the cult of evil spirits is really not a belief.Zhang Ning was moved by Yao Ji's active support for his great cause.

At this time, he asked casually: "Does my concubine believe in Buddhism?"

"The word 'respect' used by Ping'an just now is better." Yao Ji sat down softly on the chair, "There are gods standing three feet above the head, people should not be afraid, and should be in awe. But there is a saying in Buddhism Don't lie, I can't talk nonsense in front of the Buddha statue, and I can't talk about believing in Buddhism for the time being."

Zhang Ning thought of Dongxue, an old woman from the evil sect. She had a very bad heart, but she had a Buddhist bead around her neck for a long time, claiming to believe in Buddhism.He had some feelings but replied: "Although my concubine only respects Buddha, she is more sincere than some people who believe in Buddha."

Yao Ji smiled and said: "There is only one Buddha statue here, it can't speak, and you, I don't need to pretend..." She deliberately looked down on the white-clothed guard next to her, "I don't believe in Buddha because there is nothing Things can make me truly believe that it exists in the world, but I don’t think it’s bad. The Buddha’s advice to people to do good, to forbid people to fight, is a good thing in the world. People’s hearts are unfathomable. Where?"

Zhang Ning bowed and said: "Your words taught me a lot."

Yao Ji said again: "Everyone in the church, it doesn't matter whether you want to believe in Buddhism or believe in it. It's just that the teachings will no longer be preached. There are so many people in each sub-altar and the main altar, but they don't know how to make a living? The religious altar can be dispersed. , but I still want to keep people.”

Zhang Ning understands her completely, let alone because he cares about other people's way of life, just look at this jade statue, if there is no one in his hand, who will enshrine what she likes?No one, no real power, and being controlled by others everywhere, it is not easy to eat, play, enjoy, or have something to do; Yao Ji herself is used to rich clothes, how can she have the heart to let her suffer the slightest grievance?She is not a saint, how can she be completely private, just human nature.

He nodded yes.A happy smile appeared in Yao Ji's eyes, and she went on to say, "I thought about it. There was a Ministry of Internal Affairs in the Tang Dynasty. It's a good name. You can change the name of the main altar to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Think about it safely, where we live Let someone manage the affairs, and you need someone to purchase all kinds of expenses. The main altar is your own people, which is much better than finding new people. Each sub-altar is actually hundreds of congregants, as long as you give them land, let them The altar master manages the place, so he can keep it as it is; in the guard house of the government, a general is in charge of thousands of households, and we have more sub-altars with hundreds of people on our site, should it hurt the elegance?"

She said with an expectant expression, thinking that she had been in the evil cult for many years and provided her with a place to live, so she still cared about the congregation.The anticipation revealed in the charming and beautiful eyes is something that people can't refuse; let alone some land, even if they want a city, Zhang Ning wants to give it to her.

He pondered for a moment, paying attention to the gaze she cast from time to time, and said: "The Jinyiwei set up by the court may not be for military intelligence at first, but a tool for internal fighting, but the Jinyiwei did play a role in spying out intelligence. I have long realized that we The lack of this aspect is like the ambush that happened in Changsha Mansion. The officers and soldiers calmly deployed soldiers and waited for the rabbits. We have no information at all; or Lao Xu was used by others before his death. We also know nothing about it...

The Senate Department once set up the Guards Bureau, but it did nothing. It was the credit of the cult members who once captured Jin Yiwei's spy.After Lao Xu's death, the Guard Bureau now exists in name only.I think that after the general altar is changed to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, it can also be responsible for this part of the power. "

After hearing this, Yao Ji laughed and said, "You are generous. I just want a bead, so why don't you just give me a chain... Once the evil cult gets involved in military affairs, you are not afraid of me intervening in politics?" [

Zhang Ning said softly: "If I die and my son hasn't grown up yet, I will support my concubine as regent."

In his view, power is not something that only men want to pursue. Women in the Ming Dynasty cannot participate in politics not because they are unwilling, but because they are greatly restrained; Don't want to do whatever you want?Lust | Desire has no gender.

Yao Ji hastily stretched out her jade hand, and pressed her fingers on his lips: "Are you cursing me for sending a white-haired man to a black-haired man?" After a while, she seemed to realize something, and her fingers shrank quickly as if they had touched a piece of coal. went back.

There was still a tinge of red on her face, but she deliberately turned her head slightly with a straight face and said, "Go to the front hall and tell everyone the result earlier."

The attendant in white at the side knelt and said, "Yes."

As soon as the others left, Yao Ji became more daring and began to watch Zhang Ning's eyes cautiously. The two looked at each other silently, as if trying to understand each other's heart.

Zhang Ning's heart is extremely simple, even vulgar.When you no longer have everything, to love someone is to be willing to share benefits with her; some women are happy to give her a piece of valuable jewelry, and some people become mistresses and want a building... and what Zhang Ning gave Things are more substantial political | power, it can bring more, much more valuable than sending a box of gold and silver jewelry.

He also believed that this was what Yao Ji wanted, because she had stayed in the court before, and the cruelty of the court infighting would be hard to forget. She understands the importance of power and status, and she is absolutely unwilling to be trampled and humiliated, and to compromise against her will .

……

At this time, Zhang Ning finally showed the pride he should have after the victory of the war. He said in a deep voice: "I have defeated an army of [-], and soon I will go to capture Yuezhou, Wuchang, Jingzhou, and more cities and more. A lot of land, use force to occupy it. As long as the mother concubine wants, I am willing to give it. What is the land that is divided into the altar? We need victory and strength. In the future, what kind of thing like Queen Ma dares to show embarrassment to the concubine mother? Let them live on your breath."

"You actually used favors to bribe me?" Yao Ji lost her composure, and her voice trembled slightly, "There will be no outsiders in the future, so you don't have to call me concubine mother, I don't know why it sounds weird..."

"What's that called you?" Zhang Ning's eyes became more focused, and his voice became low as if he was talking about something secret.

"What's your name..." Yao Ji took a deep breath, shook her head and said, "Forget it, let's call her Concubine Mu."

Zhang Ning said: "You promised me before, but you haven't rewarded me yet. You witnessed the battle of Yuanshui with your own eyes. I fought very hard and lost my life."

Yao Ji's eyes shifted slightly, and she glanced at the jade Buddha statue behind Zhang Ning, and she couldn't help taking a step back. Her chest heaved as if she couldn't breathe well, and the silk material of her jacket trembled like waves, suppressing her plump inner body.

"I..." When she stepped back, her lower back had already touched the table, and she subconsciously pressed her hand back to support her center of gravity, but unexpectedly touched the teacup. There was a clear and crisp sound of "铛", which made her tremble all over with fright, and her face turned pale.