It was difficult to believe the situation in North Korea, and the factory guard went out to Beijing to find out the truth

In the imperial city of the Ming Dynasty, the cabinet had just received a report from Hao Jie, the governor of Liaodong. At this time, among the cabinet ministers, Shen Shixing, Xu Guo, and Wang Jiaping have left their posts one after another because of old age or because of the dispute over the country, and only Zhao Zhigao and Zhang Wei are left in the cabinet, and Wang Xijue is still in his hometown and has just been summoned. The first assistant to the cabinet is temporarily appointed by Zhao Zhigao.

Zhang Wei held the report of Hao Jie, the governor of Liaodong, and said: "Zhao Gelao, Hao Jie, the governor of Liaodong, said that Korea was invaded and occupied by the Japanese invaders, and in just one month, Hanyang, Kaesong, and Pyongyang all fell, and all eight roads were lost. ”

Zhao Zhigao was preparing for the vote, and when he heard what Zhang Wei said, he stopped writing and took the report and asked, "There is such a thing?" Although the Japanese invaders did a lot of harm, and it took more than ten years since Jiajing to quell the Japanese rebellion, to say the least, it did not constitute a great chaos to destroy the country. How could Korea, which has always been the powerhouse of the eastern country, be so vulnerable? ”

Zhang Wei didn't know the exact reason, and as for how to present Zhang Wei's proposal: "The stakes are very high, the details are not clear, and it should not be easily reported to the Holy Lord. ”

Zhao Zhigao said helplessly: "Zhang Ge is extremely worried, people's hearts are not ancient, and they can't ask for troubles. In my opinion, it is enough to bring the officials of the household department and the military department to discuss, and the others do not need to, and they can only add to the noise and do nothing. ”

Zhang Wei said: "Yes, the Ministry of Officials is at odds with the Cabinet, and Shangshu Sun Yan and former Shangshu Lu Guangzu and the Ministry of Officials Chen Younian and Gu Xiancheng are constantly impeached. Li * Chang * Chun, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, also insisted on correcting the country, and it was useless to come here, so I asked people to inform the officials of the Ministry of Household and the Ministry of War. After that, Zhang Wei sent someone to deliver the letter.

Half an hour later, Yang Junmin, the secretary of the household department, and Shi Xing, the secretary of the military department, rushed to the cabinet to discuss the matter, and the four of them sat down separately after giving a salute, Zhao Zhigao said: "Today, the cabinet received that Hao Jie, the governor of Liaodong, was captured by the Japanese and asked for troops to be rescued. ”

Yang Junmin, the head of the household department, said: "In recent years, the imperial court expenditure has increased, and the war is frequent, since the eighteenth year of Wanli Haikou trouble in Ningxia to the present, the northwest has spent a lot of money in the northwest, fortunately the saint is compassionate, and the internal funds are allocated to solve the urgent needs of the treasury. ”

Zhao Zhigao deeply understood Yang Junmin's meaning: "This is indeed the case, the trouble of the Haikou will be peaceful, the rebellion of Bibai is still holding each other, and there are often wars in southwest Burma, and now most of the elite soldiers of the two capitals and 13 provinces of the Ming Dynasty have been used in the northwest. ”

Zhang Wei asked Shi Xing: "In addition, I and Ge Lao also have other concerns, doubting the authenticity of the defeat of North Korea, because when Korea was thankful for grace the previous time, there were many obscurities about the dealings with the Japanese State, which made people suspicious. ”

Shi Xing said: "I thought that in the early years of the southeast war, although all pirates were brave, but the mobile guerrillas were between Zhejiang and Zhizhi, and the guards from all over the country could not stop it. If, according to the song, the one who came was the main army of the Japanese state, then the defeat of Korea may be possible. In order to prove the authenticity, I plan to secretly send a special person and a Liaodong painter to check the body of the Joseon king, and then order Tong Yangzheng, deputy commander-in-chief of Kuandian Fort, to lead his troops to investigate the enemy's situation first. I also ask the two elders to send an urgent letter to the cabinet to instruct Hao Jie to play in detail again, and on the other hand, they can play the saint, please know about it. What do the two elders think? ”

After hearing this, Zhao Zhigao smiled and said: "Okay, what Shi Xing said is extremely reasonable, thoughtful and proper, Elder Zhang Ge, then you and I will first submit this ticket to the celebrant supervisor." If the war resumes, we should be prepared, the military department will immediately arrange for investigation, and the household department will also make preparations first, and the Korean envoy is in Liaodong, and whether to inquire about North Korea in person still needs to wait for the emperor's will. I would like to ask for your more responsibility for the important affairs of the military state. And they got up, worshipped each other, and departed.

The cabinet votes were to be sent to the celebrant eunuch, and the eunuch Tian Yi said while tidying up: "There are only two cabinet elders left in this cabinet, Zhao Zhigao and Zhang Wei, who are also pitiful. ”

Zhang Cheng, the chief eunuch of the master of ceremonies, was drinking a cup of tea before the rain and was about to take a nap. Suddenly hearing what Tian Yi said, he also sighed in his heart, Zhang Cheng answered: "Shen Shixing, Xu Guo, and Wang Jiaping are all planted in the battle for the country, Zhao Ge Lao and Zhang Ge Lao have to be careful at all times, and it is not good to offend anyone, and now the first assistant of the cabinet is not as good as before. It seems that it has to stay in the middle again. ”

Bingbi eunuch Chen Ju suddenly saw the cabinet's report on the Korean Japanese situation, and immediately took it out and said to Zhang Cheng and Tian Yi: "Zhang Gonggong, Tian Gonggong, here is a report of Liaodong Governor Hao Jie, which was marked by Zhao Ge Lao, to the effect that it was the Japanese invaded North Korea, and asked Daming to send troops to rescue. ”

Zhang Cheng took over the report: "At present, the war in the northwest is stalemate, and the dispute over the national capital has made the master worried, and the North Korea and the Japanese have come to add to the blockage. The most hurtful thing about the master's heart are those ministers, who boast of their loyalty and righteousness, and don't know how to share their worries for their masters, and fight in the ring all day long. The master is benevolent, don't care about them, we can be careful every day, the palace is the home, the master is our day, but since the fifteenth year of Wanli, the master has gradually reduced the early dynasty, and I am much easier. ”

Tian Yi echoed: "The master has eaten a lot better in recent years, every time Zheng Guifei is called to sleep, the master is happy, the meal and wine will be empty, there is Zheng Guifei waiting on the side, the master is healthy, longevity is boundless, and the blessing of the Ming Dynasty." ”

Zhang Cheng said: "Although the crown prince's canonization ceremony has been decreed, but the master loves the third son of the emperor after all, and it is unknown whether the canonization has changed, but the ceremony needs to be prepared slowly. As for the official book that talks about the country's capital, our family can't bear to present it to the master's royal review. ”

Chen Ju saw that Zhang Cheng was about to get up and submit the song to the imperial court, and then advised: "This time to report to the master, please also ask Zhang Gonggong not to be harsh on the officials, in my opinion, these officials just abide by the etiquette law, inappropriate words, and collide with the master, if the master is angry again, he will hurt the dragon's body." ”

Zhang Cheng said with a smile: "No wonder everyone in the palace and outside the palace call Gonggong Chen, you are the Buddha, Gonggong Chen, these officials claim to be extremely selfless, but in fact, they are treacherous and loyal, they only have themselves in their eyes, deliberately compete with their masters, and whether they are tolerant or not have their own masters' will." Now the master should be at Zheng Guifei's place, and you and I will reclassify the cabinet votes and submit them to the master for royal approval. It's time for Cining Palace to eat, Father-in-law Tian, the Queen Mother's side is also very important, you can go there. Tian Yi answered.

Tian Yi led people to Cining Palace to wait for Empress Dowager Li* to eat, Empress Dowager Li was in a happy mood, seeing Tian Yi kneeling and saluting, Empress Dowager Li said: "Father-in-law Tian get up, these two days have not come, today I just accompany the mourning family to see the new flowers, flowers are better than people, and the mourning family can spend a lot of energy for it." ”

Tian Yi saw this and flattered: "This flower has been carefully cultivated by the Queen Mother, and it is the beautiful leaves that are fragrant and elegant, which is pleasing to the eye." Slaves and maids are blessed, and they can see this flower today, which is really a blessing for the queen mother. Empress Dowager Li chuckled: "Oh, Father-in-law Tian, what's the matter today, with this flower, he is boasting about the mourning family, and he is worthy of being a eunuch with a pen." What is the news from the emperor's side, and what changes have been made in the canonization of the emperor's eldest son? ”

Tian Yi replied: "Don't worry about the queen mother, the emperor has already issued an edict on the canonization of the eldest son, but there are still ministers who have repeatedly played and advised to canonize early, the emperor was angry, and the edict was postponed for a year. ”

Empress Dowager Li said: "These ministers are also really, in order to set up a matter of mourning the family also came forward to warn the emperor, this has already issued a decree or what is the urgency, abolishing the long and young, the emperor can't do it, not to mention that the mourning family is still there." It's just that the eldest son of the poor emperor was born in heaven but had a hard childhood, and Concubine Gong Wang was also a slave of the mourning family, and she should also be cared for by the mourning family. By the way, Gonggong Tian, also tell the palace about the meaning of the mourning family, don't chew your tongue everywhere because Concubine Gong is not favored by the emperor, the mourning family heard that some slaves and maids don't know the etiquette, who can bully this Concubine Gong and the eldest son of the emperor? The emperor will say that the rules in the palace should also be managed, and if you talk nonsense, you will go to the tongue, and the mourning family will be happy, don't let the affairs of a few slaves and maids also make the mourning family make another decree. Tian Yi knelt down to thank the Empress Dowager for her compassion, and the Empress Dowager Li continued to eat after chatting with a few words of consolation, and Tian Yi retired.

At this time, Wanli Emperor Zhu Yijun was resting in the Yikun Palace where Zheng Guifei was located, Zheng Guifei slowly grinded, Wanli practiced writing in front of the case, concentrated, and the Wanli Emperor was reflected in the window to show more radiance, dragon face and great grace. After Emperor Wanli finished writing, Zheng Guifei boasted: "The emperor's penmanship is vigorous, showing the imperial atmosphere." ”

Emperor Wanli said with a smile: "I have practiced since I was a child, and I have only gained charm so far, it is rare that you can see the emperor's spirit." Concubine Zheng said: "It is not difficult for the concubine to see it, and the emperor's spirit has already jumped on the paper." ”

Emperor Wanli smiled faintly, his heart was happy, it happened that the third son of the emperor Zhu Changxun came to have fun, Emperor Wanli picked up Zhu Changxun and prepared to dine with Zheng Guifei, Emperor Wanli loved Zhu Changxun deeply, often took him to play, and Zheng Guifei was also very affectionate. Before the Wanli Emperor met Zheng Guifei, he ascended the throne at an early age, was deeply disciplined by the Queen Mother, monitored by internal officials, divided power by auxiliary ministers, and held hostage by etiquette and law. Emperor Wanli often felt empty and bored, the palace was brilliant but there was no spiritual light, carved beams and paintings, rare and exotic beasts, but also dry and monotonous. Things in the palace are repeated, and the content is complicated, and Emperor Wanli has long been tired of it. Since the dismissal of Feng Bao, the liquidation of Zhang Juzheng, and the resignation of the Empress Dowager, although Emperor Wanli regained the respect of the Ninety-Five, he gradually fell into the whirlpool of loyal and righteous advice of the courtiers, and the words and deeds of hundreds of officials became more and more presumptuous, interfering with government affairs, and Emperor Wanli felt exhausted, and had no interest in other concubines.

It wasn't until Zheng Guifei appeared that Emperor Wanli came to life, Zheng Guifei was beautiful, graceful, smart and alert, and proficient in poetry. For Emperor Wanli, Concubine Zheng Guifei was innocent, unscrupulous, teasing and sarcastic, listening to and relieving sorrows, all of which deeply touched every nerve of Emperor Wanli, so Emperor Wanli was no longer lonely, even if everything was irritable, as long as Concubine Zheng was accompanied by him, he was refreshed.

Emperor Wanli was holding Zhu Changxun for fun, and said to Concubine Zheng Guifei: "Zhu Changxun is still like me, like me when I was a child, he exudes royal heroism." When Zhu Changxun jumped out of Wanli's arms and played around, Zheng Guifei also leaned into Wanli's arms, hooked Wanli's chin, and asked herself sweetly in the eyes of the emperor.

Concubine Zheng got up and said: "The concubine doesn't want to bear the misunderstanding of the courtiers, and the concubine also knows that the emperor is in a dilemma. My son has been a vassal since he became the king of the day, and the mother and son are difficult to see, but they can be the emperor and the concubines are also willing. ”

Emperor Wanli saw that Concubine Zheng Guifei had tears on her face, and felt sad, and saw that it was like pear blossoms with rain, and Emperor Wanli added care, so he said to Concubine Zheng: "I don't like Chang Luo, I have no one else to replace you and Chang Xun's favor." I want to make Chang Xun the crown prince, the hundred officials obstruct it, the etiquette is restricted, although I am the son of heaven, but I often feel powerless, I am deeply ashamed, but because I am the son of heaven, I should not give up lightly, no matter who obstructs, I should do everything to let Chang Xun inherit the unification. ”

Zheng Guifei didn't believe it, and repeatedly persuaded Wanli not to violate the laws of the ancestors because of temporary favor, and dodged Wanli's hug several times, laughing and turning around Wanli's side. Wanli is also in the ascendant, chasing with Zheng Guifei in the palace, Wanli promised several times that Zheng Guifei said: "In this case, the emperor should leave a token for his concubine." Emperor Wanli was curious, and Zheng Guifei asked Emperor Wanli to write an edict and seal it in the brocade box, which was placed on the beam of the palace by Zheng Guifei as a future credential. Emperor Wanli retreated left and right in order to please him, and when no one was around, he personally wrote an edict, swore an oath with Zheng Guifei, and ate again.

After that, the eunuch Zhang Cheng and the eunuch Chen Ju went to Yikun Palace to ask Emperor Wanli to move to the Qianqing Palace. Emperor Wanli changed his clothes inside, Zhang Chengyu waited while reporting the content of the chapter to Emperor Wanli, Emperor Wanli was extremely impatient with the matter of the country, so he said: "I don't want to listen to all the pieces about the canonization and impeachment today, and I will stay in the middle for approval." What's going on with the affairs of the ministries? So Zhang Cheng gave a brief explanation of the disaster, the project, the reward, the promotion, and the recruitment of troops in turn.

Emperor Wanli asked about the war in Ningxia, and Zhang Cheng replied: "Mei Guozhen has joined Wei Xuezeng and Ye Mengxiong, and Li Rusong, Ma Gui and other reinforcements have rushed to Guyuan, and the army has gathered to encircle Ningxia. It's just that Ningxia is still easy to defend and difficult to attack, and it will take time to break the city and capture the thieves. Ye Mengxiong's echo must be triumphant, please wait for the victory. ”

Emperor Wanli was displeased: "Worship is not a barbarian slave, live up to the grace of the saint and even easily occupy the important town of Ningxia, it is already a great shame, Wei Xuezeng's progress was slow before, and he reprimanded him if he wanted to appease me, and he had to reprimand Ye Mengxiong again, I appreciate his temperament like a fire and know that the army is steady, even if Ningxia is solid, my Ming hundreds of thousands of elite soldiers must not be consumed by it, tell Ye Mengxiong, conquer Ningxia must not delay the fighter, I will worship the head of the father and son, and the battle situation in Ningxia will be reported at any time." Zhang Cheng led the order.

Later, Zhang Cheng reported to Emperor Wanli about the invasion of Korea by the Japanese invaders, and the Wanli Emperor was shocked when he heard this, and was puzzled by the defeat of Korea and the conspiracy, and his thoughts were confused for a while. If North Korea conspires with the Japanese invaders, Liaodong will be in danger, and if Liaodong is not protected, the enemy can go straight to Beijing! At present, it is the time when troops are being used in the northwest, and if troops are transferred to the east, the war situation in Ningxia will be repeated. I have to transfer reinforcements, as well as the candidates for the commander of Liaodong, Jian Da, Hao Jie, and Li Chengliang, and Li Chengliang should be used again. ”

The affairs of North Korea are unbelievable, and the theory of collusion is also deeply stressful, although Emperor Wanli intends to pretend to be calm, but it is difficult to hide his urgency. Zhang Cheng waited from the side, and Chen Ju also said to Wanli: "Master, don't be anxious, take care of the dragon body." The old slave thought that the Joseon world was blessed by heaven, and there would be no objection, Liaodong was a good general, a superintendent, a general general, and the master knew them well, if they conspired to invade, Liaodong would have already noticed, but it was really strange that Korea was easily defeated by the Japanese invaders, and more people should be sent to investigate in detail. The cabinet also has this intention, and also asks the master to make a judgment. After hearing this, Emperor Wanli felt that it was reasonable, so he summoned the commander of the Jinyi Guard and Tongzhi to the Qianqing Palace to meet him.

After receiving an urgent call from the Wanli Emperor, in addition to the palm seal of the celebrant and the eunuchs of Bingbi, the Jinyi Wei commanded Li Ruzhen, Xu Maolu, and the commander Song Jin and Wang Zhizhen also gathered in the Qianqing Palace. Emperor Wanli sat in the middle of the Yan Ben suit, his expression was indifferent, his eyes were slightly closed, and after the master of ceremonies stated to Jinyiwei, Emperor Wanli said: "It is a matter of the safety of the Ming Dynasty, so that you Jinyiwei selected capable personnel to go to Liaodong in the starry night, one is to check the Korean envoy with Hao Jie, the governor of Liaodong, in the name of Qincha, and the other is to go to Yizhou to investigate the military situation with Tong Yangzheng, the chief soldier of Kuandian Fort. Once verified, report to me immediately, Li Ruzhen, Xu Maohu, can you understand what I mean? ”

Xu Maowei and Li Ruzhen immediately led Jinyiwei to kneel to receive the order, Xu Maowei said: "The minister will live up to the emperor's high expectations, and Jinyiwei will definitely find out the truth to solve the worries of the monarch's father." Emperor Wanli said: "I know your talents, and I am convinced of you Xu Mao. Li Ruzhen, your ancestral home is in Liaodong, and before entering Beijing, you often accompanied your father Li Chengliang, so that the people sent out could understand the general situation of Liaodong and North Korea so that they could easily investigate. Li Ruzhen commanded. Li Ruzhen recommended Jinyiwei 100 households Luo Sigong led the team to investigate, this Luo Sigong is the nephew of Luo An, the commander of Jinyiwei in the Jiajing Dynasty, the Luo family has served in Jinyiwei for generations, the family style is excellent, diligent and loyal, Luo Sigong himself is also very capable, Xu Maoyu has no objection to this, and seconded the recommendation, and Emperor Wanli agreed.

Then Emperor Wanli said: "Not only the Ministry of War and Jinyiwei, Dongchang also went, Zhang Cheng, the master of ceremonies is also famous officials, and then bring the Liaodong painter selected by the Ministry of War to Yizhou to comfort the king of Korea on behalf of the imperial court, explore the authenticity and give North Korea 20,000 taels to show the grace of heaven." In Dongchang, a few soldiers who can speak Korean were selected to go to the Korean people to investigate the truth. Zhang Cheng led the order.

Li Ruzhen and Xu Maolu returned to the Jinyi Health Office to arrange the selection and assignment, and Xu Maohuan said to Li Ruzhen: "If the Japanese invade North Korea and want to attack the Ming Dynasty, then Liaodong will bear the brunt, so that the Zun family will be the first to suppress Liao, and it is an opportunity to make meritorious contributions, brother, I am here to congratulate first, why not send a letter to Jiliao Governor Jianda, if the fighter is appropriate, so that the Liaodong Army can also make the first contribution." ”

Li Ruzhen said: "Jian Da has a great friendship with my family, and there is no need to express it in letters, just need to convey greetings on my behalf, and Jian Gong will understand." It's a pity that my brother and fourth brother are in the northwest, otherwise he would have taken the lead. This first merit can only be established by the family generals, compared to these, you still have to be careful of the gang of fans in the East Factory, and it is common to take credit and provoke trouble. Xu Maowei understood in his heart, and late that night, the military department, Jinyi Guard, and the celebrant were ordered to leave Beijing and rush to Liaodong.