Yun Xi spoke to them again, and it was noon. He sent someone to ask, and learned that Xiyao was still busy and couldn't take care of eating, so he said to Huang Fu: "You go and tell the queen that no matter how busy the affairs in the palace are, you have to eat first." ”

However, because of this, he decided not to go back to Kunning Palace for dinner, and asked the imperial dining room to cook and send it to Qianqing Palace, chatting with Zhu Bai and Yunxi while eating, and having a meal 'simply'.

After eating, Yun Xi sent someone to send Yun Xi and Zhu Bai out of the palace, I wanted to take a nap, but first, I slept a lot in the morning and now I am not sleepy, and second, Xi Yao is so busy that he is embarrassed to rest, so he thought about going to the front hall to answer the fold.

The four auxiliary officials and the housekeepers who were about to play the ticket were a little surprised that Yun Xi came over at this time: Usually Yun Xi is taking a nap at this point. Someone's eyes rolled, but they still lowered their heads and went to the ticket.

Yun Xi sat down to comment on the recital, and suddenly saw a recital that read: "The Annan army south of Nanguan near the town has some ...... moves", and said to himself: "Could it be that the Annan people want to send troops to attack the Ming Dynasty?" No, the Ming Dynasty is not the Great Song Dynasty, and even when the Ming Dynasty was about to perish, I have not heard of any record of Annan's army sending troops to attack the Ming Dynasty. ”

Of course, it may also be that at that time, it doesn't matter if the Annamite sent troops to conquer a few county seats, and there is no record in the history books, but at least until the Ming Dynasty was captured and Beiping City was captured, the Annamite people did not move. Could it be that it is their own butterfly effect, which has always refused to accept the tribute of the Annamite people, so they are forced to take risks? The logic doesn't make sense. ”

Yun Xi, who was puzzled, replied on the fold: "The Guangxi Jinyi Guard investigated why the soldiers of Annan had moved, and ordered the Jingjiang Royal Mansion and Guangxi to command the envoys to prepare for the provocation of the Annan people. ”

Yun Xi wrote these words, threw the fold aside, and continued to reply to another fold.

Time is approaching the end of the year, and there are fewer and fewer twists and turns, but in the past two days, he has spent a lot of time meeting with all kinds of people, etc., and there is not much time to comment on the folds, so that there are still a lot of folds that he needs to answer; However, there are not many tickets that the four auxiliary officials and the sheren need to draft.

So soon, Shen Shizheng, all the folds were drafted.

The four auxiliary officers who did not have a fold in their hands looked at each other. It would be of little use for them to stay here any longer, but His Majesty the Emperor was still sitting in his seat and giving serious comments, and it did not seem a good idea to say that they were going to leave now.

Just when they didn't know what to do, Yun Xi looked up and saw them empty-handed, and then suddenly realized, and said with a smile: "A few Aiqing, you can go on duty, you don't have to stay here." ”

"Today is the twenty-third day of the lunar month, and there are only people left on duty in the various yamen in the capital, but because there are still some pieces sent to the capital yesterday, you have to enter the palace; Now that the recital has been drafted, there is no need for you to continue to stay in the palace, you can retreat. ”

While speaking, Yun Xi also put down his pen and stood up, walked up to them and continued: "In the next few days until the fifteenth day of the first month, if there is no need, I will not let you enter the palace, and you will have a good rest at home, and you will only have these few days of rest throughout the year." ”

"I don't bother you with the New Year's Day, and now I'll give a few Aiqing New Year's greetings in advance." As he spoke, Yun Xi bowed slightly.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." The fourth assistant officer hurriedly said, and several young scholars stepped forward to support Yun Xi.

Yun Xi said a few more words to them and let them go down. Among the four auxiliary officials, Xie Jin was the last to retreat, and Yun Xi said to him: "You can't be busy for a long time, you tell the people who compiled the "Great Dictionary of the Ming Dynasty" in the History Museum to start resting from tomorrow until the fifteenth day of the first month. ”

"And all those who compile the canon, whether they are compilers, copyists, or others, shall be given an additional three months' worth of money for the New Year."

"Your Majesty is so benevolent, the people of the History Museum must be grateful for Your Majesty's kindness." Xie Jin said.

Yun Xi smiled, didn't speak again, and told him to step back. Except for Jin Shan, who was on duty today, who stayed in the palace, the rest of the people left the palace.

Yun Xi returned to his seat and continued to answer the folds, and by the middle of the unitary time, he had finally finished answering all the folds.

"It's not easy to finally answer the answer. From tomorrow onwards, I can finally have a good rest. Yun Xi muttered to himself. Not only is it a twist, but there are no more things that need to be discussed by the prince and ministers, and he can stay leisurely until the last day of the lunar month.

Yun Xi got up and washed his hands, thought about it, and instructed Huang Fudao: "You go and order the imperial dining room to send my imperial food to Yanhuan Palace." Also, now Wang Xi's Chinese New Year's Eve party has not been completed? ”

"Your Majesty, the prince just sent someone over to say that the matter is almost done, but there are still some details that have not been done." Huang Fu first agreed "yes", and then explained for Wang Xi.

"When Wang Xi is done, you let him go to Yanxi Palace to see me." Yun Xi said.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Huang Fu agreed.

Yun Xi immediately stood up and left the Qianqing Palace.

……

……

Yun Xi has put down his work for the time being and will not deal with political affairs until the first day of the first lunar month, but an official who was supposed to rest at home today is still staying in his own public house in the yamen. And although it was the coldest time of the year at the end of the month, he still sweated on his forehead.

Mei Yin held two folds in his hand, one was Zhu Quan's entry and description of the battle of the Selenge River, and the other was also Zhu Quan's advance, and the approximate reward he suggested for each meritorious soldier.

Mei Yin jumped up and down on the two names on the latter fold, and at the same time Nan Nan said to herself: "What should I do? Who did this one named Peng Qingzong and Zhang Yi's son Zhang Yumu choose? ”

What Mei Yin was struggling with was how to determine the merits of these two men in the battle of the Selenga River.

After Zhu Quan and his troops happened to encounter the armies of Kun Timur and Arutai, and saw them scattering and fleeing, he immediately ordered his soldiers to attack the Mongol army in units of 1,000 households.

This one called Peng Qingzong was a thousand households, and he was very brave enough to destroy the main armor of the Mongolian army in one fell swoop, and his contribution was the greatest among the thousands of households, and Zhu Quan also listed him as the first merit; Although Zhang Yumu, the son of Zhang Yi, the Marquis of Heqing, has also made some contributions, he is far inferior to Peng Qingzong.

If that's all, even if Zhang Yumu's character is not very good and he wants to attack, Zhu Quan will not agree.

But during the battle, Zhang Yumu was wounded, and his right arm was slashed by the Mongols, and although he was finally rescued, he lost his right hand.

Zhang Yumu is still young, and after losing his right hand, it is impossible to be the commander of tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of troops like a general. Of course, he will be awarded a staff officer, but for ordinary people, it is a gilded position, and for him, a person who has lost his right hand, it is a position to eat leisurely. Zhang Yumu is not the eldest son, and it is impossible to inherit the title of Zhang Yi, Marquis of Heqing, in the future.

Therefore, in order for his son to have a better life in the second half of his life, Zhang Yi could only show his face and ask Mei Yin to arrange more credit for his son, so that his son could get a higher reward.

Mei Yin was in a dilemma, not only because his own beliefs made him unwilling to arrange the credit that did not belong to Zhang Yumu on him, but also because it was not too easy to arrange Peng Qingzong's credit on Zhang Yumu. Peng Qingzong is now in the capital, and many people who made meritorious contributions in the Battle of the Selenge River are also in the capital, even if Zhu Quan can appease them so that they don't make trouble, they will drink and talk nonsense in the tavern in the capital, and they will let Jinyiwei and Zhensi know, and then let Yunxi know.

After a while, Zhao Xuan, who had to accompany him to work overtime because of Mei Yin's 'overtime', pointed to the sky that had completely darkened and said: "Shangshu, it's dark now, and it won't be long before it's curfew, so Shangshu still made a decision early." ”

When Mei Yin heard Zhao Yan's words, she subconsciously looked up at the outside of the glass window and said, "It's already so late, it's really time to make a decision." ”

He took out a blank document and wrote these words on it: 'Zhang Yumu, ,......, of Huizhou Weiqianhu, should be the first meritorious, and the reward for his disability will be increased by one grade, and the hereditary commander of the false title will be added, and Xu Qi will return to Beijing. ’

After Mei Yin finished writing these few sentences, she felt a little weak, and said to Zhao Qian: "Put away this will for the time being, and then issue it after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month; I personally went to talk to His Royal Highness King Ning, so that he could appease his generals so that they would not make trouble. ”

"Yes, Shangshu." After Zhao Yan agreed, he asked, "Do you have any other things?" ”

"No, go down, put this order away and go home. After that, you can come to the military headquarters on duty on time according to the scheduled squad. Mei Yin said.

Zhao Qian bowed and said goodbye to Mei Yin and left the room.

Mei Yin stood up and muttered to herself, "I hope that this person named Peng Qingzong will be able to make meritorious contributions in the future." ”

He muttered a few more words, walked out of his public room, and got up to go home.

When he walked to his carriage, he suddenly said to the people beside him: "You hurry to King Ning's mansion while there is no curfew yet, and tell His Royal Highness King Ning that I will go to see him tomorrow." If he has time in the morning, he will meet him in the morning; If he does not have time in the morning, he will meet him in the afternoon. If he doesn't have time in the afternoon, I'll rush to King Ning's Mansion before the curfew to see if he has time in the evening. ”

Halfway through Mei Yin's words, this subordinate was already very surprised. What is there in my own master that I have to see His Royal Highness King Ning tomorrow?

But of course, he wouldn't ask, and promised, "Yes." Then he mounted his horse and galloped away.

Mei Yin got into the carriage and drove back. Soon after he returned to himself, no, it was his wife's mansion, the mansion of Princess Ningguo.

As soon as she arrived at the door, Mei Yin raised her eyebrows and asked the porter, "Are there guests at home?" ”

"Master, the eldest princess of Lin'an has come to see Madame. And just now there was a word from the inner courtyard, saying that the eldest princess of Lin'an is not leaving today, let us take good care of the horses pulling the cart. The porter said.

Mei Yin didn't speak again, got out of the carriage, and walked into his mansion.

Of course, Mei Yin went to see Princess Lin'an first, and then returned to her courtyard to have dinner with her sons. After eating, I took out a book and read it.

I don't know when, Princess Ning Guo returned to the courtyard and said, "But I'm tired to death, so I finally let the eldest sister rest." ”

"What is the eldest sister doing today?" Mei Yin asked. He privately addressed the royal family the same as Princess Ningguo, except for addressing the emperor.

"It's nothing, it's just to pull the relationship." Princess Ning Guo said: "Before, I suggested that Yunxi let the eldest sister come back, and the eldest sister was very grateful to me; And the princess in Beijing lives outside the palace, so I seem to be closer to Your Majesty, after all, you are now the secretary of the military department, and I serve as the secretary of the women's school and attend classes in person. That's why she came to talk to me from time to time. ”

"I drank a little wine when I was having dinner with my eldest sister just now, and my eldest sister was a little drunk, so I left her at home for a night."

"Speaking of which, why did you still go to the military department today? Today is the first day of the Chinese New Year holiday. Even if you didn't finish some things yesterday, you won't be in the military department until now. ”

Mei Yin heard Princess Ningguo's last words, and said with a wry smile: "There is one thing that is really difficult to decide. He told Zhang Yumu, the son of Zhang Yi, the Marquis of Heqing.

"It's really not easy to do. Zhang Yi followed his father to raise troops back then, and he made great achievements, and he was also an old friend of our family. If the general thing is postponed, it is not easy to do. Princess Ning Guo said.

Mei Yin and Princess Ning Guo are actually very law-abiding people, if Zhang Yumu's hands are intact, they will definitely not bend the law for personal gain; But now they are also struggling with this situation.

"Well, now that you've decided, don't think about it anymore. Tomorrow, talk to the seventeenth brother, let him understand, and restrain his generals not to make trouble. Princess Ning Guo finally said.

Mei Yin nodded, this was the same as his plan.

However, it was still difficult for him to get this matter out of his mind, and sighed: "If the seventeenth brother is sealed, I don't have to worry about this matter." ”

"That's for sure. If the seventeenth brother is sealed, the transfer of officials other than the Wang Xiangfu can be decided by himself, and there is no need for the military department in the capital to make a decision. Princess Ning Guo said.

……

……

Zhu Quan heard the words of Princess Ningguo's subordinates, frowned and said, "Lone knows, you can retreat." ”

After he stepped back, Zhu Quan stood in the living room and said to himself in a very puzzled tone: "What is it that makes the second brother-in-law see me in such a hurry?" ”

……

……

Peng Qingzong and other generals from Daning walked out of King Ning's mansion and walked towards the place where they were temporarily staying in the capital. Although they had just had the most delicious meal they had ever had in their lives, no one showed excitement on their faces. If you look closely at their cheeks, you can see that some of them have anger or grievances on their faces.

Winter is the season when the northwest wind is raging, and although the place where they live is not far from Ningwangfu, it is just southeast of Ningwangfu. Several of them rode on their horses weakly, and the horses under their seats seemed to be infected by them, and some of them walked weakly, as if they were being blown forward by the north wind.

After a while, the few of them returned to their temporary lodgings, dismounted, handed over their horses to their relatives, and went into the courtyard.

The subordinates who served several of them were startled. When they left here two hours ago, they were still very energetic, chatting with great interest about the prosperity of the capital, guessing what His Royal Highness King Ning was going to do when he summoned them, why did they become so resentful when they came back from King Ning's mansion?

It can't be that the Mongols suddenly occupied Daning, which of their relatives died suddenly? No, that's also supposed to be sadness, not the current expression.

One of them instructed: "Go and buy some wine and food, and come back, if you have mutton for three catties of mutton, and if you don't have mutton for three catties of pig's head, buy some of the strongest soju and come back." ”

"Yes, my lords." The subordinate said yes and walked out of the courtyard. After a while he returned with the wine and meat, put it on the table, and bowed out.

When he retreated, someone else looked carefully outside, and closed the doors and windows tightly.

Someone suddenly broke out: "What a few big officials in the capital actually took the credit of Brother Peng!" This Zhang Yumu, I didn't know that he was such a person before, damn it, he was greedy for other people's credit, and I even drank with him. If I ever see him again, I'll spit in his face! ”

"You won't see him again. He lost his right hand, and he couldn't fight, so he probably stayed in the capital to eat leisurely. Another said.

"This matter can't be all thanks to Zhang Yumu, didn't His Royal Highness still say that he must evaluate the merits impartially when we were in Daning? Zhang Yumu himself didn't say anything. It must be his father who wants him to take more credit and be crowned a hereditary commander. Someone else said.

"In my opinion, this matter depends on Your Highness! If His Highness does not agree, who can force His Highness to agree? Unless it's the emperor. But if the emperor wants to crown a person, he still needs to embezzle the credit of others, and just issue an edict? And I heard that the emperor is a wise monarch today, and it is impossible for him to do such a thing. It's up to Your Highness. The previous speaker said again.

"Your Highness is probably a last resort. I heard that Zhang Yumu is the son of Heqinghou? His Royal Highness the Marquis who was in the capital did not dare to offend. ”

"Why doesn't Your Highness dare to offend the Hou Ye? ……”

Everyone talked for a long time, arguing about who should be responsible. Suddenly, someone realized that Peng Qingzong, the party involved in the matter, had not spoken, and hurriedly asked, "Peng Qingzong, what do you think of yourself?" Who do you hate the most? ”

Hearing this person's words, everyone hurriedly turned their heads to look at Peng Qingzong.

Peng Qingzong raised his head and looked at them, and said, "I don't hate anyone, I hate that my own merits are too small, my position is too low, and I am not qualified to meet Your Majesty." If I can meet Your Majesty face to face, who would dare to covet my merits? ”

"Actually, if you are not convinced now, you can also write to Your Majesty." There is humanity.

Peng Qingzong shook his head and said, "Isn't this a shame for His Royal Highness King Ning, you can't do this." ”

"What about you?"

"Me? Didn't His Royal Highness King Ning say that he would compensate me? I accepted the compensation from His Royal Highness King Ning and continued to work on errands. ”

"Just put up with this?"

"What can I do if I can't bear it? Now that's all there is to it. But Peng Qingzong's expression suddenly became resolute, and he said: "But in the future, I will definitely make a contribution that no one dares to covet ink and meet Your Majesty." At that time, I will talk about today's events. ”