From the original Caoyun Governor's Yamen to the Economic Strategy Envoy Office, from the Yamen Office to the current Huaiwang Mansion, the time has only been two years.

But in just two years, what kind of changes have happened to me?

Standing on the shore of the lake, Zhu Mingzhong's heart couldn't be calm, from the line of life and death when he just crossed, to now being the king of Huai, although he is the "king with a different surname" of the Ming Dynasty, he is also extremely respected. And this change in identity, even he himself is adapting, just like now, he has not even adapted to the etiquette that he should maintain as a "king", after all, the king is an unusual official.

Although the change in identity has not yet adapted, Zhu Mingzhong finally felt the benefits of the removal of the tight spell - now, Jiangbei is no longer nominally self-reliant, but de facto self-reliance, and even civil and military officials, Zhu Mingzhong can be appointed and dismissed at will, unlike in the past, which still needs to be approved by Nanjing officials, although Jiangbei's recommendation Nanjing has never refused. However, this kind of personnel power is not independent and has always constrained Jiangbei.

Now, all this is over, Zhu Mingzhong, who opened up the shogunate in Qinghe, can already rule Jiangbei and Jiangyin in the name of joining the military government, and can appoint civil and military officials at will, the second rank of civil officials, the first rank of military generals, and even the military government is equal to the "small court", as for the advisory army is also equivalent to the "small cabinet", this army is no longer left and right to join the army, but composed of several soldiers.

"The powers of this cabinet are perfect, and some attempts can be made in the military palace first."

Thinking that the current consultation and joining the army is equal to the "cabinet", Zhu Mingzhong thought of the "cabinet system" of the Ming Dynasty that he had learned, starting from Yongle, the emperors of all dynasties have sent great policies to the cabinet to varying degrees, and the emperor "can rule the world without receiving his subordinates, and he will have the votes of the ministers." Despite this, the Cabinet has never been able to become a formal administrative body at the central level. The contradiction between the cabinet ministers and the emperor has never stopped, and the power of the cabinet in the Ming Dynasty was unstable, and it did not play a role in supervising and restraining the imperial power, and even contributed to the imperial power. Moreover, the cabinet and the six ministries often compete with each other for strength, and there are many contradictions. The unclear boundaries between the functions and powers of the six ministries and the imbalance in their work greatly affected the administrative efficiency of the Ming government. Objectively, it is conducive to the arbitrary power and disorderly administration of the celebrant supervisor. Coupled with the contradictions and struggles within the cabinet, the cabinet did not become a subsidiary system that was fully compatible with the monarchy.

But despite all the shortcomings, the cabinet still played a good role, as long as the cabinet was full of talents, the emperor could not be fooled around. In the Ming Dynasty, even if the emperor did not go to the court, the state apparatus could rely on a group of ministers and a set of government affairs to maintain normal operation.

"Gu Yanwu, Zhu Daxian, Wu Youcai, Qian Lei, ......"

Silently thinking about the few people in his heart in his heart, although he had decided to appoint anyone to join the army, Zhu Mingzhong's eyebrows did not have the slightest lightness, not because of the attempt that would be carried out here, but because of others, but because of the current situation.

Although he has successfully used a large number of ordnance to lure Li Ziyuan to lead the Northern Expedition, thus avoiding the possibility of the Qing army's fishermen making profits, and also making Zheng Chenggong throw a mouse trap and prevent him from crossing the Jiangbei River, the situation has not eased.

What bothered Zhu Mingzhong even more was not only the situation with Zheng Chenggong, but also Zheng Ling's troubles in recent days, but also Li Ziyuan.

"Li Ziyuan ......"

Reading this name, Zhu Mingzhong's brows were tightly locked, in order to prevent Li Ziyuan from being used by Zheng Chenggong, he did not hesitate to provide a large amount of military supplies to help him in his Northern Expedition, so he did not become Zheng Chenggong's help. In this way, it not only prevented him from being used by Zheng Chenggong, but also used it to severely damage the Manchu Qing Dynasty, so that the Manchus were unable to take advantage of the fire to rob, but now, the smooth Northern Expedition of Li Ziyuan made Zhu Mingzhong a little worried, worried that his Northern Expedition would be a great threat to Jiangbei after the success of the Northern Expedition.

"Northern Expedition ......"

Thinking of the article sent by Zhu Dayong, Zhu Mingzhong even had a feeling of being cocooned and self-bound, perhaps instigating Li Ziyuan's Northern Expedition was equivalent to drawing salary from the bottom of the kettle for Zheng Chenggong, but on the other hand, he put himself in a moral dilemma.

"Ask for the common people in the world? Do they think Zhu doesn't want to go on the Northern Expedition? But at this time, how can you transfer troops? ”

Wan Rui, who originally came out to breathe and smoke a bag of cigarettes, naturally never thought that he would meet the king here, and when he was about to leave, listening to the king's words, he couldn't help but say.

"Actually, it's not that we can't go on the Northern Expedition."

The words behind him made Zhu Mingzhong turn around and smile when he saw the person coming.

"Not for you,"

Seeing that it was Wan Rui who came, Zhu Mingzhong's face immediately showed a smile. He is not familiar with Wan Rui, but he is no stranger to the Wan family in Xuzhou, Zhu Mingzhong once read in an article that "ten thousand families have not been in the Qing Dynasty for three hundred years", which is a rare "hereditary remnant" in history books.

Among the remnants of the past dynasties in the history books, the remnants of the late Ming Dynasty are particularly famous for their largest number and the most resolute attitude of resistance, they are all ashamed to cater to the Manchu Qing Dynasty, not the two dynasties, push the integrity, uncompromising, and are revered by the world, but more of their sons and nephews have taken the initiative to throw themselves into the fame and fortune of the Manchu Dynasty, which is suffocating. In later generations of academic circles, the so-called authoritative stereotype of "the remnants are not hereditary" has become more and more popular, which has caused a certain negative impact on society, and it can be said that it has discouraged the morale of aspirants. The reason why the idea of "the remnants are not hereditary" has gained the upper hand in the academic circles of later generations is due to the master of Chinese studies, Qian Mu. Qian's view that "the remnants are not hereditary" originated from Xu Jie, a relict in the late Ming Dynasty, and was supported by the rebellious behaviors of the second generation of nephews, disciples, and sons of academic celebrities such as Gu Yanwu, Huang Zongxi, and Lu Liuliang, which is reasonable. After all, in the case of human nature's pursuit of profit, how can the martyrs of the ancestors influence the pursuit of fame and fortune by future generations decades or even a hundred years later. Although "hereditary remnants" is not easy to do, it is not impossible.

In contrast, after Wan Shouqi, his ten thousand families, not to mention the second generation, until the fall of the Qing Dynasty, none of his children have been officials of the two dynasties of different races, which is caused by the family rule that the descendants are not subject to the ancestral training of the officials of the Northern Dynasty. It is precisely because of this that Zhu Mingzhong admired Wan's family style, and after Yan Ermei recommended Wan Rui, he summoned him into the mansion. will not let it be a plate in history, empty and full of talents, but because of his loyalty, he is unwilling to extinguish his conscience and act as a tiger.

It is precisely because of this that Jiangbei remnants such as Wan Rui, Xu Jie, and Du Xianfa have all been placed by Zhu Mingzhong in various departments of the government office, and if they pass the assessment, they will be released as officials.

"The minister sees the king of Huai."

As an official of the military palace, Wan Rui naturally needs to be a minister, and this is the biggest difference between the Huai Wang's military palace and the economic and strategic envoy office. When they were in the government office, they were only officials of the government office, and they were both Ming courtiers with Zhu Mingzhong, but they were subordinate to each other. And now, as officials of King Huai's military office, their identity is not only "Ming officials", they are also retainers of King Huai, and they have the responsibility of loyalty to King Huai.

"Excuse me!"

When Zhu Mingzhong waved his hand, he asked again, knowing that the article must have passed through Wan Rui's hand.

"It's not that you can't go on the Northern Expedition? I don't know what I think of you? ”

"The king (1), the minister thinks that the righteousness of Fang today is nothing more than the Northern Expedition, if the king orders the Northern Expedition, if the King of Yanping dares to lead the troops to the north, he will definitely be ashamed of the people of the world!"

Nodding slightly, Zhu Mingzhong did not speak, but motioned for him to continue, standing in front of the king, Wan Rui continued.

"Furthermore, with the conceit of the king of Yanping, if it is the king's northern expedition, he must disdain to take advantage of people's danger, so the king can naturally go on the northern expedition safely."

"This is completely betting on Yanping's character."

Zhu Mingzhong shook his head, and then said.

"For Yanping's character, this king naturally has never doubted it, but ......"

But what about after the Northern Expedition? For him Zhu Mingzhong, Jiangbei is fundamental, he can miss the Northern Expedition, but he can't lose Jiangbei.

"The weight of Jiangbei cannot be lost!"

After letting out this sigh, Zhu Mingzhong said to Wan Rui helplessly.

"Even if it is during the Northern Expedition, Yanping will not invade Jiangbei in the north, but if it is a Northern Expedition, Jiangbei will definitely use all the elites, and when the time comes, Jiangbei's defense will be empty, so what should I do? In case Jiangbei is lost, I am afraid that the army will be unstable! ”

Zhu Mingzhong is not Li Ziyuan, and the Loyal and Righteous Army is not the Li Family Army, if you lose Jiangbei, the combat effectiveness of the Loyal and Righteous Army will drop sharply, and in the same way, if Zheng Chenggong gets Jiangbei, its combat effectiveness will expand sharply, after all, Jiangbei has a military industry that is not available in other places.

"Li Ziyuan can go on a northern expedition because Huguang is not much different from Henan, Zhili, and Shanxi to him, but Jiangbei is different from me, so it can't be equated, and then it's ......."

Glancing into the distance, Zhu Mingzhong laughed at himself.

"Only if my loyal army is here, it is possible to deter the Qing captives, so that they do not dare to act easily, it can be said that this Li Ziyuan's northern expedition, it can be said that the opportunity is quite good, after all, the Qing army will not necessarily be able to mobilize heavy troops and intercept them, after all, they must take into account our side, will they make a move."

"King, since the Qing army is worried, it is better for the king to send a partial army to take Kaifeng directly."

After hesitating, Wan Rui finally mentioned his thoughts.

"King, at present, Li Linchuan's Northern Expedition can be said to be the world's attention, if our army does not take action, it will definitely damage the name of our loyal and righteous army, if our army goes west out of Kaifeng, it can not only block the world's leisurely mouth, but also make the Qing army dare not act rashly, so as to help Li Linchuan's Northern Expedition."

Wan Rui's suggestion made Zhu Mingzhong's eyes light up slightly, and he groaned......

"Kaifeng ......"

(1) I made a mistake before, hey, I was too influenced by the Manchu Qing Dynasty, and in the Ming Dynasty, I called the vassal king and the king with a different surname as "the king", and as for the Manchu Qing Dynasty, it was called "Wang Ye", and "Ye" was a popular title in the Qing Dynasty.