Zhang Yu, the grandson of Zhang Hui, the deputy commander of Datong, was specially selected to carry out the task because he led hundreds of cavalry, followed Wang Yuan's left and right, and killed the enemy in the valley with the emperor.

Zhu Houzhao likes this young man very much, not only is he handsome and about the same age as Wang Yuan, but he is also brave in killing enemies on the battlefield.

Zhang Yu took his cavalry and more than 1,000 Mongol prisoners to escort Bu Chi back to the grassland.

Bu Chixu is about to be fifteen years old (the Tatar Khan can be pro-government at the age of fourteen), and was taken to the battlefield by Dayan Khan for training, but he didn't expect to return in such an embarrassment.

When leaving Datong Mansion, Zhu Houzhao agreed with Bu Chi that the two sides were not allowed to attack each other again.

Bu Chi didn't dare to refuse, and there was no reason to refuse. His third uncle had half of the Tatar army, and as a deputy khan, he commanded the entire right-wing Mongolia, and after establishing himself as a khan, he would inevitably lead troops to kill Bu Chi. He can't guard against the third uncle, how can he have the energy to provoke Daming?

When Zhu Houzhao returned to the DPRK, the good news had been transmitted back to Beijing as soon as possible.

On this day, Yang Shen was going out of Dongcheng to greet his father. He returned to Beijing at the end of last year to resume his post; And his father Yang Ting and his father were mourned, and they have not returned to Beijing until now.

The Yang family has died one after another in recent years, first Yang Shen's stepmother died, then Yang Shen's grandfather died, and Yang Shen's son died last year. and Yang Shen's wife, Mrs. Wang, and Yang Shen's uncle Yang Tingping, who were all seriously ill at this time, and would have died of illness if history remained unchanged.

Yang Shen is depressed and unhappy, no longer as chic as he was in the past, and no longer engages in literary gatherings all day long, but spends more time on being an official and serving politics.

Yang Ting and Ding Wei didn't have nothing to do at home, building canals, bridges, and temples in their hometown. He also used the money given to him by the gentry to build a bachelor's square (archway) and used it to repair his hometown county, and the local gentry naturally wanted to donate money to repair the city. Then set up Yitian to help the widows and loneliness in their hometown.

For a while, Yang Tinghe's reputation in his hometown was extremely high, and even beggars had to give a thumbs up.

When Yang Tinghe was still in Ding Wei, he had already received a letter from his confidant, saying that the emperor had slipped out of the capital and gone to the border town. He could only sigh secretly, praying that there would be no more "changes in the civil fort", and Ding Wei would rush back to Beijing immediately after the expiration of the period.

Water Post Wharf.

Yang Shenzuo bowed and said, "Father is well! ”

Yang Tinghe nodded and asked, "What is the situation in Beijing?" ”

"It's a mess," Yang Shen explained, "Liang Chu, Yang Yiqing, Jin Gui, and Lu Wan, these four people are fighting endlessly, and each cultivating cronies. Although the imperial concubine is virtuous, it is difficult to reconcile the contradictions between the four people, and many affairs of the six departments cannot be carried out. ”

Historically, Yang Yiqing and Jin Gui have both been honored at this time.

Because Yang Yiqing was too upright, he repeatedly admonished his ministers, and was forced out of the court by Jiang Bin and Qian Ning. And Jin Gui was because he presided over the examination, and there was a fraud case in the six-year examination of Zhengde, and his servants stole and sold the content of the examination, and now he ran out to preside over the examination, which immediately aroused criticism from the government and the opposition, and he resigned and returned to his hometown to live idlely.

However, Zhu Houzhao went to the border town a year ahead of schedule, and he did not even participate in this year's palace examination. Yang Yiqing naturally would not be forced away by Jiang Bin, and no one approved Jin Gui's resignation.

The emperor was not there, Jiang Bin was not there, Qian Ning was only concerned about making money, and the civil officials could not find a target for attack, so they simply played the trick of infighting.

First of all, Lu Wan made a difficulty, and cleared Yang Yiqing's cronies who remained in the ministry, and Yang Yiqing naturally wanted to fight back. The fierce struggle between the two completely made the first assistant Liang Chu lose control of the ministry, so Liang Chu also hurriedly joined in.

As for Jin Gui, he has a conflict with Liang Chu.

After Prince Liang served as the first assistant of the cabinet, he replaced Jin Gui's henchmen in the imperial chamber and suppressed Jin Gui's henchmen in the Hanlin Academy. In the past, when the emperor was in Beijing, Jin Gui was willing to be a lonely minister, and he always had weight in his words. After the emperor left Beijing, Jin Gui did not have the holy family to take care of him, and the cabinet's right to speak plummeted, how could he still tolerate Liang Chu's suppression and exclusion of his henchmen?

Three cabinet ministers and one minister were in this melee.

Yang Tinghe frowned and said: "Lu Wan, this person, two sides and three knives, I don't know anyone!" ”

Before Yang Ting and Ding Wei returned to his hometown, Lu Wan was his absolute confidant. Unexpectedly, in just three years, Lu Wan not only jumped back, but also completely stood on the opposite side of Qingliu.

Yang Shen said: "The imperial concubine has been stunned by these four people, and she is arguing over everything, and she doesn't know who to listen to." However, Yang Yiqing is slightly more favored at present, because he is mostly on the matter and is gradually gaining the trust of the imperial concubine. ”

"Any news from Border Town?" Yang Tinghe asked again.

Yang Shen shook his head and said: "The little Mongolian prince committed a border at the end of September and the beginning of October, and His Majesty personally led the troops to fight, so I don't know what the battle situation is for the time being. ”

Yang Tinghe sighed: "Alas, I don't want to win or lose, I just want Your Majesty to be safe and sound." ”

Yang Shen comforted: "Fortunately, Wang Ruoxu is with him, he is a man who can fight, and he is extremely favored by His Majesty, and he may be able to persuade His Majesty at a critical time." ”

"It's difficult," Yang Tinghe sat in the carriage, lifted the curtain to enjoy the roadside scenery, and said with deep worry, "Your Majesty I watched grow up, and his strong donkey temper attacked, even the first emperor couldn't be persuaded to come back to life." Your Majesty is smart, and it is because he is so smart that he always feels that he is right in everything. ”

The father and son entered the city in a carriage, and on the other side of the capital, a fast horse also galloped into the city.

The military messenger in charge of reporting the news held up Lubu and shouted along the way: "Great victory, great victory in Yingzhou!" His Majesty personally captured the Tatar grandson, and the prince beheaded the little Mongolian prince. Our army captured more than 8,000 Tatar heads (real numbers), captured more than 4,000 war horses (real numbers), and captured 3,000 Tatar thieves (double false reports)! ”

On the Xicheng side, inside and outside the city, they were crazy, chasing the military messenger and telling each other along the street.

The army sent straight to the military headquarters and the governor's mansion, and after delivering the battle report, he once again held Lubu high and rode around the city on a fast horse.

"Great victory! Yingzhou Victory......"

Yang Tinghe said suddenly: "Stop, what are you shouting ahead?" ”

The coachman replied, "It seems to be shouting for a great victory." ”

Yang Shen immediately got out of the car and listened attentively, and the voice was heard clearly from far and near. He turned to his father and said, "The front is a great victory, Wang Ruoxuan beheaded the little Mongolian prince, and His Majesty personally captured the Tatar grandson." Another 20,000 were beheaded, 3,000 were taken prisoner, and more than 4,000 horses were captured. ”

Yang Tinghe pondered: "Wang Yuan beheaded the little Mongolian prince, this news should be true, such a big thing cannot be faked." His Majesty personally captured the Tatar grandson, hehe, how could it be so coincidental, most of them were the side generals who made contributions. As for the beheadings and prisoners, as long as the heads are not brought back to the capital, who can say how much? ”

Yang Tinghe never expected that Zhu Houzhao had really pickled more than 8,000 heads with lime and was moving to the capital.

"Either way, this battle is a big win." Yang Shen said.

Yang Tinghe nodded and said: "But for a big victory, just killing the little Mongolian prince is an undoubted big victory, and the Ming border can be stable for decades." Alas, I don't know whether to rejoice or worry about my father. ”

"Now that you've won, what's there to worry about?" Yang Shen asked.

Yang Tinghe explained: "Your Majesty already likes military affairs, and this personal expedition has returned with a great victory, and it will inevitably become even more intense in the future." He had defeated the little Mongol prince and was determined to look for another enemy. Either to fight the Liaodong Jurchens, or to fight Duoyan Sanwei, these places have been conquered by him, and he will go to the southwest frontier to find trouble in Annam and Laos. Every time he fights, no matter what the victory or defeat is, the life of the people of the world becomes more difficult. ”

"The states and counties of Beizhili are indeed because of His Majesty's personal expedition, which has led to the swarming of thieves this year," Yang Shen had a different opinion, "but the child thinks that it is all worth it." Because the little Mongolian prince is dead, the northern frontier of the Ming Dynasty can be settled. In this way, there is a lot less military work, and countless money, food, and conscription can be saved. ”

Yang Tinghe asked rhetorically: "What if Your Majesty has been reckless?" ”

"This ...... Not really, right? Yang Shenleng said.

Yang Tinghe sneered: "I am his teacher, I raised him since I was a child." No one knows better than I do what kind of person Your Majesty is. Look at it, this year has won a big victory, and next year Your Majesty will definitely go to the border town. Either deal with Duoyan Sanwei, or deal with the Liaodong barbarians! If the Ming Dynasty is rich and the official warehouse is full, I wish he would win more battles. But what does Daming look like now? Can he stand up to years of military use? ”

Yang Shen stopped answering.

Yang Tinghe said: "Even if Wang Ruoxu assists, His Majesty will win the battle. But in the end, the battle against the foreign enemy is won, and the people in the Ming Dynasty will be unhappy and thieves will rise everywhere! ”

Yang Shen sighed and said, "Alas, it's better to win than to lose." ”

Yang Tinghe smiled bitterly: "That's why I said, I don't know whether to be happy or worried." ”

Yang Tinghe's mind is indeed very clear, and he has a deep understanding of both the Ming Dynasty and the emperor. He also knew that in order to solve various difficulties, it was necessary to carry out in-depth reforms, but Yang Tinghe did not believe that the reforms could succeed, so he did not have the slightest desire and determination to reform.