Zhang Mingwei and his entourage rode a wooden bicycle in such a way and arrived at the Forbidden City.

Subsequently, Zhu Yujiao went to see her mother, while the others went to the Jinluan Palace to discuss matters.

After all, the results of the southern and northern wars of Xingguo Gong are obvious to all. Emperor Chongzhen's meaning was to prepare to reward Zhang Mingwei for meritorious service.

However, Zhang Mingwei still refused, on the grounds that the thieves had not been pacified, and now they were still raging in Yunnan and Guizhou provinces.

That being said, however, everyone understands that even if the thieves are not completely pacified, the credit of Xingguo Gong is obvious to all.

Among the hundreds of civil and military officials, many people still played one after another, wanting to ask for credit for Zhang Mingwei.

In the middle, there are people from Zhang Mingwei's family, which is sincere.

If there is no Zhang Mingwei, the thieves are raging in the Central Plains, and there are beacons everywhere, which is really doomsday. But now, it is basically peaceful in the world, with frequent good news, and even so many places have been changed. There is also a huge iron ore mine offered. This kind of credit is a great merit for anyone. Suffice it to say, the reasons are very good.

There are also some people who shout for Zhang Mingwei to ask for credit, but they saw the scene of entering the city and knew the status of Xingguo Gong in the emperor's heart, which is beyond the relationship between monarchs and ministers in any dynasty. Asking for credit for Zhang Mingwei is to tie up with the rejuvenation of the country, and there may be a chance to win the favor of the rejuvenation of the country.

As for the rest of the people, their minds are a little sinister. is still the previous purpose, the Duke of Xingguo is already the title of Duke of the country, and instigating the emperor to give the Duke of Xingguo a knighthood, or hereditary, or a king, in short, it is necessary to raise the Duke of Xingguo higher, even if he can't be defeated for a while, it can also lay the foundation for the future.

Therefore, this time in the Jinluan Palace, they were all surprisingly unanimous, and they asked Emperor Chongzhen to reward the Duke of Xingguo.

Seeing this, Zhang Mingwei came out and said to Emperor Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, I have said before that it is not my intention to be a marquis, but I hope that the sea will be peaceful!" If I must be rewarded, I would like to ask for a promise from Your Majesty. ”

Upon hearing this, everyone was a little surprised.

Xingguo Gong doesn't want a reward, just a promise? So what is that promise?

So, what kind of mind people have, what kind of thoughts!

Most people think that Xingguo Gong should not take precautions and use today's efforts for a chance to be exempted from crime in the future, similar to a gold medal for avoiding death?

There are also some people who think that Xingguo Gong is going to propose to Emperor Chongzhen and ask to marry Princess Kunxing, but now the princess is not yet old, so she has to wait until the future?

Of course, there are people with other ideas.

However, Emperor Chongzhen actually knew what Zhang Mingwei wanted to do in the end, looking at Zhang Mingwei's eyes looking at him, he knew better than anyone what Zhang Mingwei meant by mentioning this!

It can be said that Zhang Mingwei asked him for this promise, but in fact, he didn't really ask him to promise, but said hello to the civil and military officials in advance. When it comes up in the future, there will be one more excuse.

Thinking so, Emperor Chongzhen immediately asked the civil and military officials: "Sir's proposal, what do you suggest?" ”

This time, the meaning of the civil and military officials is different.

Some argue that there is no precedent for such a situation; Some people also think that Xingguo Gong is so great, it is completely possible!

Some of these people adhere to the etiquette system; Some people think that Xingguo Gong is still naïve, and the previous Chengguo Gong didn't have Danshu iron coupons, and the final result was not the same; There are even some people who feel that the original Xingguo Gong loves beauty and does not love the country, and he is obsessed with Princess Kunxing to this extent.

Zhang Mingwei insisted, and then expressed his position again, saying that the promise he wanted was beneficial to the country and the people, and it was by no means an excessive request. If he didn't give this promise, he didn't want a reward anyway, and his attitude was very clear.

Seeing this situation, Emperor Chongzhen was a little moved in his heart, of course, he was very cooperative, and immediately asked one by one, and the important ministers had to express their positions.

At this time, Zhang Mingwei's power was in full swing, even if he pointed to the deer as a horse, it is estimated that few people would dare to expose it, so in the end, his request was passed.

Therefore, regarding the reward for Xingguo Gong's personal reward, this is the case first.

Next, Emperor Chongzhen took out two copies of the good news he had received before, and began to discuss issues such as rewards at this court meeting.

It can be said that this court meeting is a festive court meeting, after all, it is all about discussing the issue of rewards.

However, in fact, some people also have a bit of an opinion on this.

Because of these two good news, I have received it a few days ago. However, the emperor kept saying nothing. Anyone can see that the emperor will wait for the Duke of Xingguo to return to Beijing before coming to the matter. Now that I see it, it is indeed so!

This gave them a feeling, as if Emperor Chongzhen had left Xingguo Gong, and there was a feeling that the food was not fragrant.

You said that you exterminate the thieves, or other countries' plans or something, and you have consulted Xingguo Gong, but that's nothing, after all, Xingguo Gong's ability is there.

However, isn't it completely possible to dispense with such a good fortune?

Emperor Chongzhen did this, which made them feel that all of them combined, in the heart of Emperor Chongzhen, could not be worth Xingguo Gong alone!

With such an understanding, no matter who it is, I am a little unconvinced.

However, they can't say such a thing, after all, if the emperor wants to do this, what can they, as courtiers, do?

At this time, I saw that Emperor Chongzhen asked the rotating eunuch Fang Zhenghua to read aloud the good news about Hetao sent by the governor of Yansui, and then asked the military officials below, how to deal with this matter?

For Li Dingguo and others, the reward is actually based on military merits, which has always been standardized. For the sake of Xingguo Gong's face, if you go to the high point of the reward, or if you have a grudge against these original thieves, you can go to the low point of the reward, and there is nothing special about it.

In this regard, Zhang Mingwei did not speak, but just listened.

In the end, the main generals were all promoted to one level. As for the others, there is no need to come to the court to discuss, there will be a reward plan from the Ministry of War.

In this regard, Zhang Mingwei still did not speak, obviously having no opinion.

Subsequently, Emperor Chongzhen asked the military officials below: "The governor of Yansui said that now that the Tumut Department of the Hetao has been almost wiped out, how should this Hetao be disposed of?" ”

The point of this good news, if there is controversy, is actually here.

As a result, the ministers at the bottom were soon divided into two factions.

One faction's point of view is that since the imperial court has recovered the Hetao, it is necessary to send troops to garrison it and declare that this is the place of the Ming Dynasty.

The other school of thought thinks that there is no danger to defend in the Hetao, and the Ming Dynasty does not lack that bit of land, rather than being stuck in the mud of the Hetao in the future and repeating the mistakes of the past, it is better not to send troops at all, anyway, that place will definitely be the Mongols in the end.

And Emperor Chongzhen also foresaw these two views. In fact, he was a little uncertain about these two views, so he thought about waiting for Zhang Mingwei to come back and ask his opinion before making a decision. Not just to express to the ministers how important Xingguo Gong is, he can't do without Xingguo Gong.

At this time, at the court meeting, as Emperor Chongzhen thought, two points of view appeared.

Although on the whole, the view that he is inclined not to want the kind of chicken ribs of the Hetao is the majority, but Emperor Chongzhen still asked Zhang Mingwei: "What do you think, sir?" ”

Hearing Emperor Chongzhen's question, the civil and military officials all stopped arguing and pricked up their ears to listen to what Xingguo Gong thought?

In their opinion, their reasons have been made very clear, what other tricks can Xingguo Gong say?

Zhang Mingwei listened, and did not answer immediately, but turned his head to look at the elites of this era in the hall, and had to sigh that due to the restrictions of the times, these elites can be described in one word: rat eyes!

But he can understand this. Because from their point of view, the Hetao is really a chicken rib. Even if the Hetao Plain is a fertile place, the Central Plains Dynasty is not short of such a fertile land.

In this era, the traffic restrictions made the Hetao more vulnerable to the invasion of nomads, so that those who only knew that the land was only used for farming did not look down on it at all.

In this regard, Zhang Mingwei has already had a countermeasure to convince the people of this era.

So, I saw Zhang Mingwei turn his head to look at Emperor Chongzhen, and said to him in a categorical tone: "Your Majesty, this Hetao, Daming must occupy it!" ”

As soon as he heard this, the faction headed by Hubu Shangshu, that is, those who didn't want the Hetao, immediately frowned, and one of them immediately asked: "Guogong, occupying the Hetao, the gains outweigh the losses, and now the treasury has just improved, but the southwest and Liaodong are still using troops, and the disasters in various places are still ......."

When Zhang Mingwei heard this, he immediately looked at him with a smile and asked him: "Then what if I say that there is a huge iron mine in Hetao?" ”

As soon as he said this, everyone who tried to convince him, including Tobe Shangshu, was dumbfounded.

Huge iron ore? There really is a huge iron mine, and it is impossible to let the Hetao fall into the hands of the Mongols under any circumstances. Otherwise, if the Mongols mine it, it will be a nightmare for the Central Plains Dynasty!

However, for so many years, I have never heard of a huge iron mine in the Hetao?

Thinking like this, Hubu Shangshu said with a little doubt: "Guogong, this matter is not a joke!" ”

"You think I'm kidding?" When Zhang Mingwei heard this, he asked rhetorically, "If you don't know, it doesn't mean that it doesn't exist!" And I can tell you that there is also a huge iron mine in Liaodong. If you don't take it sooner, sooner or later they will find out! ”

As soon as he heard this, all of a sudden, the entire Jinluan Hall was in a shock.

In this era, the importance of iron ore cannot be overemphasized!