The imperial court's arrangement of He Tengjiao to come to Huguang attracted Zhao Dangshi's attention very early, and in the intelligence system of the Secret Service Division, the surveillance of He Tengjiao and his Huguang governor Yamen has always been the most urgent task. However, in dealing with officialdom, it is far from enough to rely on the infiltration of the Secret Service Department, so as a cooperative unit of the Secret Service Department, Fu Xunyu, the head of the Foreign Affairs Department, also has a lot of information about He Tengjiao.

"He Tengjiao is the closest, and his subordinates came to visit him earlier, but his attitude is quite ambiguous."

"Ambiguous? How so? ”

"He kept supporting the establishment of a new monarch to stabilize the people's hearts, but when it came to the selection of the new monarch, he did not express his opinion."

"Have you informed him of King Fu's situation in Xiangyang?" Zhao Dangshi said intently.

"His subordinates couldn't see through his thoughts, so they didn't say anything." Fu Xunyu responded, "Wuchang soldiers are preparing to block Yinxi and him. ”

Pang Jinming, the commander of the Secret Service Division, said: "The Huguang Governor Yamen has recruited 5,000 recruits in Wuchang in the past two months, and Li Guoying has led him to practice water and land warfare day and night. Although the standard camp is enriched externally, there is my Zhao camp in the whole Huguang, and there is no enemy near and far. ”

Zhao Dangshi pondered for a moment and said: "Since Emperor Daxing temporarily installed He Tengjiao here, he must have good intentions. Since he took office, he has had extensive exchanges with the Yamen of the Governor of Huguang, and there is no intimacy at all. It can be seen that hostility is greater than kindness, so we have to guard against him. ”

Chang Zeyu said: "He Tengjiao rode alone to take office, his roots in Huguang are shallow, and he does not rely on our army to survive, but if he wants to stand on his own, foreign aid is indispensable." Combined with the inference, it is possible that he got on the same boat with the gang in Nanjing. ”

Zhao Dangshi said with a resolute face: "The war ahead is in full swing, if we can support the new monarch in time, it will be of great benefit to our army." Don't go wrong at this time because of internal hidden dangers. Regardless of whether He Tengjiao and Shi Kefa join forces or not, let's act according to the original plan first. On the fifteenth day of this month, King Fengfu ascended the throne. ”

Everyone claimed that it was, and the sound in the wide main hall of the Three Military Mansions lingered for a long time.

Zhao Dangshi said: "Is the reward article ready?" "The matter of supporting King Fu to ascend the throne is important in itself, and the arrangement before and after is even more important. The arrangement before ascending the throne was to win over the powerful factions to increase the world's recognition of the new monarch; After ascending the throne, the arrangement was to use the authority of the new monarch in turn to win over some centrists who were originally wavering.

How to woo in? Starting from the cheapest point of cost, it is to seal the official and make a wish.

At present, there are still many large and small local forces in the Ming court that are closely related to Zhao Ying. For example, Jingnan Bo Huang Degong, Ping Thief General Zuo Menggeng, and Sichuan Town General Fang Guoan are regarded as Zhao Ying's hardcore allies, and the superintendent Sun Chuanting, Fujian Town General Zheng Zhilong, Shandong Town General Liu Zeqing, and Xu Dingguo, the general soldier of Shandong Town, all need to be fought for, and Shi Kefa, the secretary of the Nanjing Military Department, and Ma Shiying, the governor of Fengyang, are very likely to stand on the opposite side of Zhao Ying. The siege of the city is the bottom and the heart is the top, and the tone set by Zhao Dangshi for Zhao Ying's diplomacy is "the more friends, the better, and the fewer enemies, the better", after all, the purpose of raising the banner of the new monarch is not to make enemies, but to gather the old forces of the Ming court as much as possible.

Chang Zeyu replied: "It's all right. Then his eyes were slightly closed, and he didn't look at the documents at hand, and said while recalling, "I only talk about the title, and I plan to crown the lord as the king of Ningnan, Huang Degong as the marquis of Jingnan, and Zheng Zhilong as the marquis of Nan'an......"

"Wait." Zhao Dangshi's expression was solemn, and he suddenly interrupted him with a voice.

"Please let the Lord know." Chang Zeyu was confused, and he didn't know what Zhao Dangshi wanted.

But I heard Zhao Dangshi ask: "Among the divided titles, I am the only one?" ”

Chang Zeyu nodded and said, "Exactly." The lord has the merit of the first policy, and the honor of welcoming the driver, so he wants to be above the others. ”

"Everyone else is a marquis?"

"There are several marquises, and more counts."

Zhao Dangshi suddenly laughed, shook his head again and again, and said, "This doesn't work, it doesn't work......"

"The lord, subordinates, etc., have studied the court's reward practices. Before this dynasty, all those who could be crowned marquis and worship were all ministers with outstanding literary and military achievements, and there were not many people who could be awarded the earl. Sealed to the marquis, it can be said that the emperor's grace is vast. ”

Zhao Dangshi smiled and said: "Mr.'s knowledge, I can't compare." But today's support for the new monarch is intended to set the general trend of the world. If the heart of the world does not belong to me, what is the use of throwing out more rewards and no one to cater to them? ”

Chang Zeyu doubted: "What does the lord mean?" ”

Zhao Dangshi said: "The creation of the new dynasty is a critical moment to reward and inspire, and don't miss the overall situation for the sake of a little consideration." Sir's research on the reward system of the previous dynasty, I have listened to it and understood, but how can a rough man like Huang Degong and Zuo Mengeng save it? They don't care what the previous regulations were, all they care about is whether they are big or not! At the same time, he said in a loud voice, "Knighthood and awarding orders is the best and least costly way to win people's hearts, at present, most of the forces of all parties are in the wait-and-see stage, we are waiting for the new monarch, we urgently need to take their hearts over, not very generous, how can they be willing to be friends with me Zhao Ying?" ”

Chang Zeyu rarely showed a look of embarrassment, Zhao Dangshi smiled faintly, and instructed the soldiers standing next to him: "Bring the documents in Mr. Chang's hand to me to see." ”

The soldiers moved in response, Zhao Dangshi took the paperwork, opened it and read the words on it: "Zhao Dangshi...... Ningnan Wang ...... Well, that's not much to say. continued, "Huang Degong, Zheng Zhilong, don't seal anything, it seems to be a small family, Huang Degong is the king of Jingnan, and Zheng Zhilong is the king of Nan'an." ”

"Also crowned king?" Chang Zeyu was surprised, "Isn't it comparable to the lord?" ”

Zhao Dangshi secretly sighed in his heart that although a smart person like Chang Zeyu had more advanced and intense thinking than ordinary Confucian scholars, after all, he had been influenced by traditional etiquette for decades, and it was difficult to jump out of the shackles of thinking, so he explained: "Sir, listen to me. Suppose that in addition to the blessed king, others set up a new king, and also rewarded the forces to win people's hearts. Take Huang Degong and Zheng Zhilong as examples, both sides are sealed, I sealed him to the top first, and what do others use to settle their hearts? ”

Chang Zeyu hesitated: "Once you reach the top, I'm afraid that you won't be rewarded in the future." ”

Zhao Dangshi said with a smile: "Mr. is too worried, things have to be done step by step, and pulling them to our side first is the first step." If you can't even do the first step, no matter how much you think about it, it's just a matter of asking for a moment. ”

Chang Zeyu was silent, and Zhao Dangshi looked at the document and said: "All the marquis here have been promoted to kings, except for Huang and Zheng, Sun Chuanting has been crowned the king of Anxi...... Wu Sangui ...... King of the Crowned Pingxi. "Sun Chuanting and Wu Sangui are the absolute powerhouses that Zhao Dangshi is trying to win over, no matter what they think, it is right to give benefits first.

"Yes." Chang Zeyu remembered in his heart.

"Chen Hongfan Feng Bo Pinggong, Zuo Mengeng Feng Xingping Gong...... Liu Zeqing...... What title did he have before? ”

Chang Zeyu replied: "Emperor Daxing made him the title of Dongping Bo, but it was only a verbal message, and other official books and seals were not delivered because of the sudden fall of the Northern Capital. Therefore, his subordinates originally wanted to still seal him Dongpingbo and settle down. ”

"Then give him a Dongping Marquis." Zhao Dangshi clenched his fists, "This guy is wandering in the eastern Henan region, although he has a nest, he has a lot of troops, and he can use it to some extent." Eyes downward, "Ma Shiying Feng Guangchangbo?" ”

"Yes, Ma Shiying also has a lot of soldiers and horses in Fengyang."

Zhao Dangshi thought about it for a moment and said, "It's better to be exempt." We don't pull everyone to pull people, this Ma Shiying's relationship in the Ming court is more complicated, and I wait for him to be knighted, which is to pull him aside to express his position, and many times in political activities will be hindered in the future. Let a sleeping dog lie. ”

Chang Zeyu thought for a while and said, "What the lord said is that his subordinates didn't think it through. He added, "Then Fengyang's side, will you leave it alone?" ”

Zhao Dangshi held his chin and said, "Of course not." The Governor's District of Fengyang is close at hand, where can you easily let it go. It is better to transfer Ma Shiying's title to Liu Liangzuo and crown Liu Liangzuo as the Marquis of Guangchang. ”

Chang Zeyu was stunned when he heard this, and then stroked his palm and sighed: "The lord is a wonderful move!" "There are two armies under the Yamen of the Governor of Fengyang as the main force, one is the Liu Liangzuo Department of the General Soldier of Xusu, and the other is the Mu Wenshou Department of the General Soldier of Fengsi, among which Liu Liangzuo is stronger, and because of the short time of belonging to the Yamen of the Governor of Fengyang, it is not a good fit. Compared with Ma Shiying, Liu Liangzuo, a martial artist with a simple relationship with the imperial court, is better controlled, and Zhao Dangshi does not pull Ma Shiying but Liu Liangzuo, and the benefits he can get in the end may not be small.

Zhao Dangshi then said to Fu Xunyu: "On Fengyang's side, there is another person Don't forget, that person is worth dating." ”

Fu Xunyu said solemnly: "Don't worry, my subordinates can save it." ”

Zhao Dangshi swept his eyes again, and said with a dumb smile: "Xu Dingguo promoted the prince to the young master, the governor of Zuodu, and hung the seal of the general of Zhenbei." Haha, looking at the long list of bluffing people, it's just that he is helping the general soldiers, and he doesn't even give him a title? I don't know if this is to win him over or force him away. ”

Chang Zeyu arched his hand and said: "The subordinates have not done a good job, please punish the lord." ”

Zhao Dangshi returned the documents and said, "The things I just mentioned must be changed, Fang Guoan and the gang in Sichuan, as well as our own family, don't slack off." There is still half a month left before King Fu ascends the throne, and during this period, Mr. Lao Fuchang will bother to improve the reward. The name of righteousness is mine, and the title that is sealed out is also determined by us, so it is more generous to make a move. ”

Chang Zeyu folded his sleeves and arched his hand: "My subordinates understand." ”

Zhao Dangshi said well, and turned to Shuiqiu to talk: "How many united soldiers have been recruited by Huguang?" ”

Although Shuiqiu Tan is proficient in arithmetic and various government affairs, he is very old-fashioned and not good at words, and when he heard Zhao Dangshi's question, he was very nervous, stood up stiffly and bowed down and said: "Back to the lord, the basic recruitment is complete." 30,000 people are divided into six posts, each post has 5,000 people, and Dou Mingming, Gao Wengui, Li Chengdong, Hu Maozhen, Li Benshen, and Du Yonghe are trained as sentinels. Two days ago, the three sentinels of Dou, Gao, and Hu had already gone to Henan to support the front-line war, and the other three outposts were stationed in the south of the city and were on standby. ”

Zhao Dangshi asked casually, Shuiqiu talked about everything in detail, and the listener covered his mouth and chuckled, but Zhao Dangshi nodded solemnly and said: "Although Mr. Shuiqiu is in a high position, he is meticulous and pays attention to all big and small things, and this kind of careful attitude that has been the same for decades is worth learning." As soon as the words came out, everyone sat upright, and no one laughed anymore.

Shuiqiutan's face flushed, and he was at a loss.

Zhao Dangshi stretched out his hand first and said, "Sir, please take a seat." The back knuckle tapped the handrail, "Li Chengdong is capricious and not credible, and four of the six whistles are related to him, which is not appropriate." Let's arrange for him to be transferred somewhere else. ”

Chang Zeyu said: "Yes, we will start looking for a replacement candidate, and we will do it after the enthronement ceremony." ”

Zhao Dangshi talked about some government affairs again, and finally said: "I am afraid that the war in Shaanxi will change greatly in the near future, and after the enthronement ceremony on the 15th, I will go back." If you don't go to the south, what is the progress of the left and side armies? ”

Fu Xunyu said: "Zuo Ping thief and Fang Zongzhen have gathered soldiers and horses in Jiujiang Mansion a few days ago, and Yuan Junmen will supply military rations. Just wait for the new monarch to set up, and then start immediately. "Jiangxi Governor Yuan Jixian and Zhao Ying have always been friendly, and privately stated that his attitude is generally in favor of King Fu's accession to the throne, and his actual actions can also be confirmed. But literati do things, it is inevitable to be cautious and repeated, and Zhao Dangshi understands him.

"Okay." Zhao Dangshi nodded. It seems that everything will usher in a new beginning on the 15th of this month.