The woman followed the middle-aged man's gaze, and at a glance saw Zhou Fang, who was gray-headed and dirty, and said in surprise: "How did this child become like this?" ”

In her impression, Zhou Fang has always been a clean and clean young man.

The middle-aged man didn't care what Zhou Fang was wearing or what he looked like, but stared at Han Cheng, who was talking happily with their brother, puzzled.

Han Cheng is different from many great Confucians now, he does not build academies, does not accept apprentices, teaches very little, and concentrates on learning, so his reputation is even greater, and all scholars respect him.

"Didn't I hear that Zhou Yuanshan and Mr. Jinghu know each other?" The middle-aged man said to himself, he was the master of the Ding family, Ding Mian. Ding Mian and Zhou Qingli have been old friends for many years and know the Zhou family very well.

The woman didn't hear Ding Mian's words, and frowned and said, "It's all your fault, what kind of marriage do you regret, Hengping has a good child, look at what has become now?" ”

Ding Mian turned his head to her, snorted coldly, and said, "What do you know!" Hengping is okay to say, that Zhengyun went to the court twice, and offended the government and the opposition, if something happens to the Zhou Mansion one day, will your daughter die together, or be a widow? ”

The corners of the woman's mouth moved, but she did not dare to speak.

This kind of thing, she doesn't understand as a woman, in short, the old man is also for the good of his daughter.

Ding Mian looked at Zhou Fang again, Zhou Zheng and Han Cheng couldn't stop talking and laughing, and they became more and more puzzled in their hearts, but they didn't stay long, and said, "Let's go." ”

A group of people continued to move forward, they were going to the White Horse Temple to burn incense and make vows.

Han Cheng and Zhou Zheng, Zhou Fang's brothers talked quite happily, especially with Zhou Zheng, some views are very different, and the perspective of reading books is also very different, which makes him feel very fresh.

Han Cheng just came to return the book, and after chatting for a while, he said, "You guys are busy, I still have a few pots of flowers to water in my house, so I'll go back first." ”

Han Cheng has no shelf, and he does not put on the qualifications of Confucian predecessors during the conversation, Zhou Zheng has a good impression.

"I'll send sir." Zhou Fang had already remembered who Mr. Jinghu was at this time, how dare he be casual.

Han Cheng just smiled, looked at the construction site again, and turned to leave.

Zhou Zheng followed a few steps, and then continued to look back at the construction site and read a book.

When Zhou was busy, it was May before he knew it, and the capital seemed to be suddenly filled with a sense of slaughter.

Although the imperial court deliberately blocked the news, the capital did not see anything on the surface, but it was extremely nervous inside.

Huang Weihuai, the rumor that Zhou Zheng brought back from Liaodong, the time is getting closer and closer.

Although there are many people in the imperial court who advocate abandoning the Liaoxi Corridor and sticking to the Shanhaiguan, the decision-making level is still very clear that the Liaoxi Corridor is the moat of the Shanhaiguan, and the Shanhaiguan is the gateway of the Jingshi, and if the moat is lost, the city gate may not be able to be guarded for a long time.

On the seventh day of the fifth month, Zhou Mansion.

In the pavilion, Tian Zhenshu and Zhou Zheng sat opposite each other, and the two drank tea and talked about internal and external affairs.

Tian Zhenshu's expression was a little solemn, and said: "The imperial court got the news a few days ago, Governor Yuan has been staring at Jianyu, and he will know it as soon as he makes a move. ”

Zhou Zheng remembered the fast horse he saw a while ago that broke into Donghua Gate, and thought that it should be from Liaodong.

With the preparation of this period of time, Yuan Chonghuan should be easier to hold the Ningjin line than in history, which Zhou Zheng is not worried about.

Zhou Zheng looked at Tian Zhenshu and said with a serious expression: "The first line of Ningjin is very important to my Daming, and Dongjiang Town is even more important. Chahar has lost the ability to restrain the construction of captives, and the only thing left is Dongjiang Town. ”

Tian Zhenshu nodded and said, "The imperial court has already sent a letter to Mao Wenlong, asking him to be vigilant, presumably nothing will happen." ”

The rumor that Huang Weihuai and Zhou Zheng brought back was spread under the pretense of Mang Gurtai, who had captured the four major Baylors, and it specifically stated that Dongjiang Town would be eliminated, such an important piece of information, Mao Wenlong would not be careless.

Zhou Zheng was not so relieved about these people, and said, "If there is any news, send someone to tell me as soon as possible." ”

Tian Zhenshu knew that Zhou Zheng was very concerned about Liaodong, and said, "Okay." By the way, when are you going back to the Metropolitan Procuratorate? ”

"Wait." Zhou Zheng said in a normal tone.

No one knew that a big change was just around the corner.

Tian Zhenshu didn't persuade much, sighed, and said, "Have you heard?" Wei Zhongxian's ancestral halls are all over the north and south of the river, and everyone imitates them, and he has become a saint. ”

Zhou Zheng shook his head and picked up the teacup.

Tian Zhenshu looked at Zhou Zheng and said pointedly: "Since ancient times, the powerful ministers have not ended well, but Wei Zhongxian, the eunuch, does not know how to converge, in my opinion, the catastrophe is not far away." ”

If it is a civil official, he must have to put on a full show, but Wei Zhongxian did not, not only did he lean towards the government and the opposition, and he was crowned with the title of nine thousand years old, but he also built a shrine in a big way, this is also a eunuch, if it is not a eunuch, who knows what he will do?

Tian Zhenshu said that Wei Zhongxian's catastrophe was coming, but it was actually the truth of prosperity and decline. Wei Zhongxian has reached the peak of the eunuchs and ministers since ancient times, and there is no half a step to advance, in this case, there are only two paths, or two results, either usurpation or death.

The system of the Ming Dynasty does not allow anyone to rebel, so there is no way forward, and Wei Zhongxian has only a dead end.

What Tian Zhenshu said makes sense, but it is not the apocalypse that does it.

Zhou Zheng also knew that Tian Zhenshu's words alluded to the fact that he was too close to Wei Xizhuang, and said quietly: "It's just that Wei Zhongxian, those people in the eunuch party don't know it yet, and they are bent on fighting for power and profit. ”

Tian Zhenshu pointed here, and then said: "Jiangxi has been full of bandits recently, and the imperial court has sent several waves to supervise the imperial history to no avail, I need to avoid suspicion, what can you do?" ”

The so-called bandits, that is, the rogues of the future, are not yet in the limelight, and they are still bandits.

The causes of bandits are very complicated, and they are still fundamentally 'natural disasters and man-made disasters'.

But not to mention the chaos of the current court situation, the local area is even more mixed, where can it be said clearly in a few words and solved.

Zhou Zheng pondered for a while and said: "The key is still the land, without the land, it may not be useful to suppress it." ”

There is no land, there is no food, bandits are everywhere, and there is an endless stream of them. Fu, without enough land, the peasants cannot eat, which is tantamount to deception, and will only further provoke civil unrest.

The key land is not in the hands of the imperial court, but in the hands of those royal relatives, noble ministers, and big officials and businessmen.

Tian Zhenshu frowned and said, "There is no other way?" ”

Zhou Zheng glanced up at him and said, "I can't find a good way right now." ”

Tian Zhenshu felt that Zhou Zheng's words were not finished, so he didn't ask more, sighed long, and said: "That's it, these are not things we can decide, I just hope that the adults in the court can have a way." ”

For these, Zhou Zheng couldn't explain thoroughly.

As for Liaodong, Zhou Zheng has done everything he can, and he only hopes that Dongjiang Town can be retained.

With Dongjiang Town, Jianyu will not dare to bypass Shanhaiguan and go deep into the hinterland of Daming, without the grain, people and animals looted from Daming, they will face cruel natural disasters, and their strength will be seriously weakened, which is equivalent to giving Daming a breath of breath and respite.

The two chatted for a while, and Tian Zhenshu said goodbye and left.

Zhou Zheng looked at Tian Zhenshu's back, and could clearly feel his worries, which could not be hidden.

Daming is now suffering from internal and external troubles, but no one thinks that Daming will die in the country, but Tian Zhenshu seems to have this kind of worry.

"It's not all short-sighted." Zhou Zheng muttered to himself and nodded secretly.

The solemn atmosphere of the capital became solemn after a few days, and the soldiers and horses of the five cities were frequently mobilized, and there was a panicked atmosphere in the capital.

Liaodong is really too close to the capital, if Ning Jin is lost, Shanhaiguan may not be able to keep it, Shanhaiguan to Beijing is a horse Pingchuan, there is no obstruction, Jianyu can drive straight into the capital, straight to the capital!

This tense atmosphere is condensed, the bells in the palace have to be struck several times a day, and the adults in the court have come and gone in a hurry, and there is no longer the previous fight between you and me.

At this time, no one mentioned giving up the Liaoxi Corridor anymore, but they must hold it, and they all pinned their hopes on Yuan Chonghuan.

After the rebellion of Jianyu for many years, Yuan Chonghuan blocked Jianyu's footsteps, and they all hoped that Yuan Chonghuan could block it again.

This influence is not only in the imperial court, but also in the uneasiness of the people.

Wei Xizhuang, who didn't care much about state affairs, came to Zhou Zheng every once in a while, all to ask about the war in Liaodong. Cheng Economy, who was preparing to build a branch in Shanxi, hurried back, with a look of worry about Liaodong.

Even at the dinner table of the Zhou family, the topic of discussion was this matter.

Zhou Qingli couldn't see any expression on her dark face, and asked Zhou Zhengdao: "You have been to Liaodong and Shenyang, what do you think about this matter?" Can you hold it? ”

Zhou Fang held chopsticks in his hand, stretched out his head, stopped his mouth, and looked at Zhou Zheng with wide eyes.

Zhou Zheng had already thought about the matter of Liaodong, and opened his mouth and said: "Ningjin should be no problem on the first line, but I am worried that it is Dongjiang Town." ”

"Dongjiang Town is not important, Ning Jin is here, Shanhaiguan will be fine, and Jingshi will be fine." Zhou Fang answered, his thoughts were clear, simple and clear.

This should be the general mentality of the Ming Dynasty now, in the past, the Ming Dynasty still wanted to Chahar, Dongjiang Town was hindered and captured, with the defeat of Chahar, Dongjiang Town is weakening, this idea has not been mentioned for a long time.

Zhou Qingli listened to Zhou Zheng's words, nodded thoughtfully, and said, "I hope Governor Yuan can hold it." ”

Yuan Chonghuan's reputation is still very high, and the court has high hopes for him.

Zhou Zheng couldn't interfere with these things, and was still busy with his affairs.

Zhou Ji is now not short of silver and sales, but Zhou Zheng is still asking for an economy, and Shangguanxun and others are trying to build channels.

Jiujiang Pavilion is being built at a rapid pace, and dozens of craftsmen are busy, but the prototype has appeared in more than ten days.

In mid-May, Zhou Zheng came back from Jiujiang Pavilion, and was just about to walk to Zhou Ji, when suddenly a little girl who looked like a maid stepped forward quietly and said in a low voice: "Master Zhengyun, my young lady wants to see you." ”

Zhou Zheng was stunned for a moment and said, "Who is your young lady?" ”

Without waiting for Zhou Zheng to think about it, the little girl said: "My young lady's surname is Ding." ”