Zhu Tingfang regretted it very much, why did he go straight back to his house as soon as he came back. You know, he just wanted to see first what kind of sacredness the country boy Zhang Shou, who made his sister Zhu Ying, who was above the top of his eyes, fall in love with him at first sight, not only could he get the blue eyes of his grandmother and stepmother, but even the emperor was quite trusting and reused, and it made those gentlemen who could only enjoy themselves in awe.

If he hadn't returned home, he wouldn't have been spotted by his sister Zhu Ying, he wouldn't have been seen by his stepmother at a glance that he had injuries, and he wouldn't have been stripped of his robe by his stepmother under his grandmother's stern but concerned eyes, and he would have almost been ordered to confess the facts.

And if he hadn't returned home, he would not have had to reluctantly accept the fact that Zhu Ying and Zhang Shou entered the palace together because of Zhang Shou's words to relieve himself.

As the future heir of the Zhao State Mansion, he often enters the palace, but at this moment, he reported his intention at Donghuamen, and without waiting for a reply from the palace, he was able to drive straight in, and he knew very well that it was Zhu Ying's light. Although the emperor is his cousin in terms of blood, he is actually a monarch and minister, and he has never been able to be casual in front of the emperor like Zhu Ying.

It wasn't long to walk inside from Donghua Gate, but I had to pass by the area where the cabinet was located. Although now that all the yamen have been sealed, and the cabinet only has one cabinet elder and two Chinese scholars on duty every day, there is no longer the bustle of people coming and going in the past, but the three of them still coincidentally collided with a senior member from the cabinet.

That is Wu Ge Lao, who has always been known as a good gentleman.

As soon as he saw the three of them, Wu Ge Lao was stunned for a moment, and then shouted with a smile: "Master Zhu is back?" Ji people have their own heavenly appearance, it is not in vain that the queen mother invited the ever-bright lamp for you in the Buddhist hall, and personally copied a few volumes of scriptures for you, and the emperor also chanted for days. ”

It was the first time that Zhu Tingfang had heard that the Queen Mother and the Emperor were so concerned about their own safety, so he planned to say a few words of gratitude from the bottom of his heart. But what he didn't expect was that after Wu Ge nodded at him with a smile, he actually looked at Zhang Shou again and said, "Dr. Zhang, your students are really amazing, there are still people discussing homework together yesterday?" The hard work makes many people embarrassed! ”

Hearing someone say again that Zhang Shou's students worked hard, and this person was still a dignified cabinet scholar, Zhu Tingfang was suspicious before, and he also believed it at this time. But he still couldn't help asking, "Is it those Hanmen in the Nine Chapters Hall who study and calculate the scriptures?" ”

"Hehe, those poor people work hard, that's a matter of course, I don't have to say it. It's because of those hard-working guys, several of whom are well-known and useless gentlemen in the capital in the past, that I can't help but sigh. Of course, not everyone is like this, but even if there are only one or twenty people in the Mid-Levels Hall, it is already very rare. ”

Seeing that Wu Ge Lao was talking while looking at himself with a smile, Zhang Shou glanced at Zhu Ying next to him, and saw that the eldest lady was full of pride, he couldn't help but secretly think, it is not uncommon for good students to work hard, and if you want to let bad students work hard, of course you have to put a bait in front of you.

He used to put down his words when he was assigning homework, encouraging everyone to huddle together for warmth and brainstorming. The group of people who have completed their homework can get the opportunity to practice - this experience, the people who have stayed in the Cuiyun room have received a clear hint, that is, the Zhao Guogong Mansion and him jointly funded to tailor a talent plan for the entire group.

Including but not limited to Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu, who obviously only opened a small weaving and dyeing workshop, but were directly questioned by the Son of Heaven...... Of course, this also includes marriages. I don't know what Zhu Ying said to move Mrs. Tai, but Mrs. Tai agreed to act as a matchmaker for those guys who turned back.

Of course, as for the contribution of the Zhao Guogong Mansion, in fact, it is more accurate to say that it is the result of Zhu Ying's direct advance of the two dowry shops.

However, Zhu Tingfang didn't know the mystery in it, and when he went to see Zhang Shou, he found that he and Zhu Ying looked at each other, and there seemed to be affection in his eyebrows and eyes, and he suddenly felt more subtle. So, he also forgot to follow Wu Ge Lao's words just now, and hurriedly wanted to leave after a perfunctory sentence, who knew that Wu Ge Lao actually took the initiative to come forward.

"It just so happens that I also have something to ask the emperor, let's go to Qianqingmen with you!"

Similar to the character of the rapping Wu Zhongshu, Wu Gelao is also a very talkative person. At least with such a person by his side, there is no need to worry about being cold, because he can string everyone together with various topics alone.

And Zhu Ying is originally a joker, and Zhang Shou is also easy to talk about, so he is not good at words...... Or Zhu Tingfang, who doesn't like to talk more, but prefers to do more, passively participates in various topics unconsciously. When he unconsciously arrived at Qianqingmen, he found that his initial sense of pickiness about Zhang Shou had been diluted a lot.

Think about it carefully, a young man who grew up in the countryside, even if he faces Wu Ge Lao, who has the best temper among the elders, can talk and laugh, at least he doesn't have to worry about the other party's background that is really too incompatible with Zhu Ying. However, if you want him to admit that he is a noble son, it is still not enough.

In the past, when Zhu Ying came over, it was often the sharp-eyed palace people or the chamberlain who ran in to report when they saw it, and no one stopped them at all, but today there are more Wu Ge old Zhu Tingfang and Zhang Shou, and Zhu Ying is also very polite and waited at the Qianqing Gate, and after a while, I saw Liu Feng, the steward of the Qianqing Palace, greeted him like a gust of wind.

This one of the best chamberlains in the palace no longer dares to speculate, and he also smiled at Zhang Shouna, and politely invited everyone into the Qianqing Palace - even according to the rules, these people with different intentions should be met in batches. Sure enough, as soon as he entered the Qianqing Palace, he heard the emperor's voice.

"It's all here, it's not an outsider, let's come in together!"

If it is replaced by the first assistant Jiang Ge Lao with a tough personality, or the second assistant Confucius scholar who hides needles in Mianli, he will not be able to clearly express his bitterness when he hears this, but Wu Ge Lao once again gave full play to his personality as a good gentleman, but he said with a smile: "I don't have anything important, but Zhu Dagongzi is a general who has just returned to Beijing, you will say it first in a while, and I will wait to hear about the previous battle situation." ”

Zhu Ying also hurriedly said: "The eldest brother should have returned to Beijing first for public and private affairs, but he was worried about me and the elders in the family, so he went home first, he was in the dust all the way, and he didn't even have time to drink a sip of water when he went home, so my grandmother and mother were not at ease, so Ah Shou and I accompanied him." Big brother, you are not allowed to understate in front of the emperor for a while, I will tell my grandmother what you say! ”

Zhu Tingfang didn't have time to say anything at all, he was pushed in front of everyone, and he could only smile bitterly at the moment. According to his original intention, he didn't want to exaggerate the previous thrill and hardship, but after entering the Dongnuan Pavilion, he had just saluted, and he only heard a bang from above, but it was the emperor who directly slapped the armrest.

"Okay, you Zhu Tingfang, you're finally back in a good place! Don't come to be polite, tell me what happened to the battle where you claimed to have lost a lot and even disappeared! ”

Knowing that the emperor had such a temper, Zhu Tingfang could only settle down and said: "Your Majesty, the first time the minister went on an expedition, he had no experience at all, even if he was a partial teacher, it was originally not the turn of the minister to lead. But at that time, because the sentinels were completely wiped out, even those shepherds who were close to the border wall turned their faces and robbed our army, and there were even unscrupulous merchants who smuggled forbidden things outside the fortress, and there was a mess in the army......"

He paused, and saw that Zhu Ying was staring at him on the side, but there was some doubt on his face, while Zhang Shou showed a thoughtful expression, and Wu Ge Lao, who had always smiled, had no smile on his face, he knew that although his sister had not reacted yet, Zhang Shou and Wu Ge Lao had clearly guessed something. As for the emperor...... That face with a faint smile, he had never seen through.

Taking a light breath, he said in a deep voice: "My father convened all the generals under his command to discuss the matter, and found that the mountains were full of mountains and there was no intention to fight, so he secretly gave me a task. Let me pretend that I can't be provoked and make a military order, and then lead the troops to the battle, but in fact, ...... In fact, it is used as bait. ”

Zhu Ying was suddenly cold, and her face turned pale. She thought she would shout loudly, how could her father be so ruthless, but the words choked in her throat and couldn't speak, until she noticed that someone was gently holding her hand, she turned her head sideways and saw that it was Zhang Shou, and then she felt that her body gradually had some temperature.

And Wu Ge Lao didn't say anything about Zhao Guogong's boldness or anything like that, but remained completely silent. And the emperor couldn't help but lightly tap the handrail with his fingers, and only sighed for a long time and said: "Your father has not been in charge of the army for many years, and although the general army of Datong was dismissed before, the old generals under his command are intertwined, so it's no wonder that he actually hit his son with his idea!" ”

As soon as the emperor spoke, he got up, and then walked directly to Zhu Tingfang: "Ci is not in charge of the army, this is true, but your father doesn't want to think about it, just such a successful son like you, waiting for your second brother to sharpen it out, but it is still very early!" If you have three longs and two shorts, what will he do? What about the Zhao Guogong Mansion? Did he think about how your grandmother would be sad? ”

Zhu Tingfang lowered his head slightly, and then said in a deep voice: "Father said that it is not only his son who goes on the adventure, but also other people's fathers, sons, brothers, and younger brothers...... Since he risked other people's lives to fight and gamble, he couldn't let his son stay in a safe place. In addition to me, the other generals he brought with him all have their own roles and cannot be overused. ”

After a pause again, his voice was a little lower: "He also said that if I believe that if I lead the troops, at least I can ensure defeat without collapse, and more people can survive." After all, this time it was not to lure the enemy deeper. ”

Zhu Ying had already heard it with great concern, and at this time, she couldn't help but grab Zhang Shou's arm, for fear of hearing the more tragic details that followed. And Zhang Shou patted Zhu Ying's hand lightly, and then raised his head to look at Zhu Tingfang.

"Master Zhu, Zhao Guogong's move can indeed be called selfless, but after all, it is you who take the risk, not him, and this is not even as touching as his own leadership. Moreover, didn't he think that even if he asked you to lead the troops, those soldiers who were thrown out as bait might not be willing to know it? In fact, he asked this for Miss Zhu......

Zhu Tingfang didn't expect Zhang Shou to dare to criticize his father like this, but seeing that Zhu Ying also showed an extremely approving expression, his mood became even more complicated, and he said lightly at the moment: "The emperor also said that Ci is not in charge of the army, there are only up and down in the barracks, and there are no fathers and sons." And, no one under my command knew they were bait except me. ”

"And after my partial division, my father sent two fierce generals from Datong to outflank me with two armies of soldiers and horses, but as expected, they stood still and watched me ambush. It's just that they didn't expect that my father's presence in Datong was just an illusion, and after I was ambushed, while the enemy army was retreating, he arrived with an elite army of soldiers and horses and ate the rear army of the northern captives. ”

"And afterwards, my father took down the two generals who sat idly by and watched the two generals who could not be saved, and my messenger, who went to ask for help in the defeated army but was almost killed, became the best witness. You know, I brought the soldiers and horses of the Datong Central Guard, and the soldiers and horses under the command of the two were in the same breath, and the main general sat back and watched the friendly troops ask for help and did not save them, and even tried to kill people, of course, there was an uproar in the army. ”

"In order to purge the scum in the army first, my father blocked many military camps in and around Datong City, sat back and watched the news of the defeat spread back to the capital, killed the two generals, and promoted many low-level generals...... Thanks to the emperor's sage, he did not urge his father to fight quickly, nor did he send people to supervise the war as the court and the central government clamoured, so there was a subsequent victory. ”

Although Zhu Tingfang's tone was flat, everyone present could hear the murderous intent and danger contained in it from his understated tone. In particular, more of his perspectives focused on Zhao Guogong Zhu Jing, but he didn't talk about his ambush and defeat at all, not to mention how he escaped and created a miracle again, which naturally attracted greater dissatisfaction from others.

And the most dissatisfied among them is none other than Zhu Ying. "Big brother, are you enough!" Interrupting Zhu Tingfang with an angry shout, the eldest lady shouted stiffly, "Whether it's the emperor or us, it's not just my father's story that you want to hear, but also your own business!" Where did you go after you lost the battle and disappeared? Later, how did you happen to copy the place where the North made firearms? ”

Seeing that Zhu Tingfang was silent, Wu Ge Lao couldn't help asking: "That's right, Master Zhu avoids talking about his own merits, this is not the time to be modest, what the emperor wants is the truth." ”

Zhu Tingfang glanced at the emperor who didn't speak, and then at the thoughtful Zhang Shou, and then smiled bitterly: "Back to the emperor, Wu Ge Lao said wrong, the minister is not modest, but shameless to face the emperor and the father of the capital. At that time, the minister was exhausted in battle, and finally fell from his horse, and he originally planned to commit suicide to apologize, but because he saw that many people under his command were taken away as prisoners by the northern captives, he was angry for a while, so he ......"

He hesitated and didn't continue, but Zhang Shou suddenly said: "But the eldest prince thought of Ling Zun's words, can you let more people survive, so he took off his armor and robes, disguised himself slightly, and took the initiative to blend in with the prisoners of war?" ”

As soon as these words came out, not to mention Zhu Ying's sudden change of color, even Wu Ge Lao was not much better. Since ancient times, defeat and capture have been a stain on the main generals of the first army, not to mention that Zhu Tingfang was once captured by the northern captives!

Even if they don't think that Zhu Tingfang was captured by exhaustion, so he lost his temper, as long as it is spread, outsiders will definitely not see it this way! Those who have attacked Zhao Guogong's father and son will only desperately preach this as if they were a treasure!

Zhu Tingfang stared at Zhang Shou with some surprise, seeing that his face was calm, without any contempt or contempt, and there was even a little respect in his eyes, he couldn't help but feel more complicated, and nodded after a long time: "Yes, I heard that the Northern Captives often look for people who are familiar with firearms among the captured soldiers and civilians, so I scratched my face and mixed in." ”

"The only death through the ages...... That's true, but I don't want to die as bait for nothing! ”