Chapter 68 The Emperor Arrives in Baotou and Encounters Ethnic Issues

Zhang Zhimu picked up the phone and said into the microphone: "General Zhou, I'm Zhang Zhimu!" ”

"Oops! Hello Mr. Zhang! Zhou Yuji said on the phone, "Mr. Zhang, the emperor is about to arrive!" Do you see anything to pay attention to on our side? ”

"Huh!" Zhang Zhimu smiled and said, "He can't control you now, you are the host and he is the guest, what are you afraid of him doing?" ”

"I'm not afraid of him now, I just want to receive him well." Zhou Yuji said, "There is such a thing, it may be a little troublesome. The railway from Baotou to Naturalization (Hohhot) is about to start laying tracks, and we are about to hold a track-laying ceremony here. This matter is a very big matter for us, and if the emperor is here, I can't help but invite the emperor to participate. But this Prince Tori said that he didn't recognize the emperor, only the Zhang Dongjia in Yaogang. It's a bit troublesome, what should they do when they meet? ”

"It's easy, tell Prince Tori that we recognize the emperor in the kiln, and if he doesn't recognize us, he doesn't want to force it. But he could not attend the ceremony. Zhang Zhimu said, "Besides, what kind of ceremony are you laying a track, and it's not open to traffic." You've finished the roadbed so quickly? It's been less than a year. ”

"Okay! Mr. Zhang. That's what I said to Prince Tori. But this was something that Prince Tory had repeatedly asked for, and he wanted to show it to his people. In fact, the roadbed has not been completely repaired, and we want to lay tracks while repairing the roadbed. For this railway, Prince Tory put a lot of effort into it. They sent a lot of cattle and sheep to the construction site, and also sent a lot of people to participate. We also want to finish this section of the railway sooner rather than later. This railway is so important to our area! Zhou Yuji said a little worriedly, "I'm afraid that Prince Tori will be unhappy about this!" ”

"Huh! He should be afraid that we will not be upset! You say, don't you? Zhang Zhimu reminded Zhou Yuji.

"Hmmm! Right. Zhou Yuji said, "Mr. Zhang, I know what to do if you say that!" ”

"General Zhou! We're going north next year, how are you preparing? Zhang Zhimu asked like this, which also reminded Zhou Yuji that this is what you should care about the most.

"Everything is ready, as long as we give an order, we can go immediately!" Zhou Yuji replied firmly.

"Next year, after we have completely eliminated the Mongols in the north, I want to build a railway from Datong to the north to Beihai (Lake Baikal), and then you will connect the railway of Naturalization (Hohhot) to the east to this line." Zhang Zhimu said.

"That's great!" Zhou Yuji said, "After beating the Mongols in the north, we can let go of our hands to carry out construction!" ”

Zhang Zhimu has always felt very strange, Zhou Yuji, a general, seems to be more interested in construction, and he is also very good at it. The Hetao area made Zhou Yuji impressive!

At this time, Emperor Chongzhen, who was sitting on the train, was also thinking about this Zhou Yuji, and said that this Zhou Yuji was originally elected as the governor of the three sides, but he was just a military general, and he was made by Zhang Zhimu, and now he actually raised the girder in the Hetao area, but he really can't see it. However, Emperor Chongzhen is disgusted with people like Zhou Yuji from the bottom of his heart, these disloyal and unfilial people, Emperor Chongzhen can't wait to kill them. But Emperor Chongzhen understands that he has no way to deal with others now, and he can't kill them.

Inside the warm carriage, looking out the window, the fields were covered in white from the snow of the previous night. There are large plots of land where tractors can be seen ploughing the ground. This made Emperor Chongzhen's heart a little touched. Farmers in Shanxi are lucky to be able to plough the land with tractors and use chemical fertilizers, and they collect less taxes. It's strange that these farmers don't welcome Zhang Zhimu!

Empress Zhou said, "Your Majesty! It's already cold outside! I don't know if there is also a kiln in Baotou? ”

Emperor Chongzhen was in a good mood and said, "Whoever freezes, they can't freeze us." ”

"I can't freeze in Beijing, but the dry heat in the house is just not as comfortable as the heating. In particular, the Yaogang Hotel can also be ventilated with a warm breeze, and it is comfortable to live! Queen Zhou said slowly.

"From now on, we will live in Yaogang and not leave!" Emperor Chongzhen smiled and said, "Let's take the Yaogang Hotel as our home!" ”

"Huh!" Empress Zhou smiled and said, "I don't know about others, but the emperor can't let go of the Forbidden City." I'm worried about Changping, my heart is wild by that Anping, and I don't know how it happened to Xi'an with Anping! ”

"I can't hold back the hearts of several princes!" Emperor Chongzhen said, "Actually, I want them to be more familiar with the situation here. I hope that in my absence, they will be able to live independently. ”

Emperor Chongzhen's words were a little heavy, and Empress Zhou didn't dare to answer.

Emperor Chongzhen drank tea for a while, looked at the galloping fields outside the window, and said softly: "I want the two little ones to stay in the kiln to study, how about it?" ”

"Is the emperor willing to do it?" Empress Zhou said, "If the emperor is willing, I think this is a good thing!" We also look at the schools in Yaogang, and the books that those children read, those people in Beijing can't teach! I can also see that in the future, it will be more useful for the kiln people to learn. ”

"There's nothing to be reluctant to!" Emperor Chongzhen said, "The students cultivated by the kiln gang people will be useful immediately when they come out." I arranged for them to study in Yaogang, and I also entrusted them to Zhang Zhimu. Zhang Zhimu will definitely treat them like his own children. I believe that! ”

"Zhang Dongjia is a very righteous person, just because he treats the court like this. However, I just don't know what will happen to this Zhang Zhimu after he clears all the opponents around him? Empress Zhou saw the root of the problem.

"Zhang Dongjia doesn't want to be the emperor." Emperor Chongzhen said, "I'm afraid that he won't be able to do it if he doesn't want to do it at that time!" What he is doing now is not at all what a businessman is doing. It is an imperial practice. ”

"This is a big thing in the world, but you must not take it lightly! Emperor! Empress Zhou didn't dare to say deeply.

"The initiative is in the hands of the Zhang Dong family," Emperor Chongzhen said, "I have been thinking about the future during this time." Anyway, Zhang Dongjia said that there is an emperor in the world, and that is me. He's a man of his word. We can see from how they treat us. ”

Emperor Chongzhen likes the feeling of traveling by train very much, and he and Empress Zhou have a passionate battle at night. Emperor Chongzhen thought it was particularly interesting, as if he felt much younger as soon as he took the train. Empress Zhou also enjoyed being favored by the emperor so much, but she didn't dare to express it.

Zhou Yuji on the Baotou side was really unwilling to receive Emperor Chongzhen, because he was the chief soldier of the three sides appointed by Emperor Chongzhen after all, and now it was tantamount to betraying the emperor and following the Yaogang people. Zhou Yuji knew that it was inevitable to see Emperor Chongzhen, and he thought of a lot of excuses to deal with it, but he was not satisfied, and then he simply didn't want to, if the emperor had to ask himself, he would tell the truth.

When Emperor Chongzhen's special train arrived at Baotou Station, the snow on the station had been cleared, and Zhou Yuji led the military and political officials to greet him at the station.

As soon as the train stopped, the prince and the brocade guard got off the train first and guarded outside the carriage of Emperor Chongzhen. As soon as the door of the carriage opened, the prince took the help of Emperor Chongzhen and stepped off the train, and Zhou Yuji and others knelt down to make a big salute. At this moment, Emperor Chongzhen found the feeling of being an emperor again. As soon as he stood firm, he said, "Get up!" ”

Zhou Yuji got up and said, "Long live the emperor!" Great work! ”

"Oh! General Zhou, you're welcome! I feel very relieved that you can pick me up on such a cold day, so let's talk about hard work! Emperor Chongzhen said coldly.

Zhou Yuji hurriedly said: "The emperor is outside the different kilns, it is very cold, please ask the emperor and Niangniang Chitose to get in the car, and it will be good to get to the hotel!" ”

Emperor Chongzhen saw that there was also a long list of large and small cars parked on the platform, and then looked at the scale of this station.

"I heard Zhang Dongjia introduce that General Zhou has managed the Hetao area well. From your position, I can see it! Emperor Chongzhen saw that Empress Zhou had gotten out of the car, and said while walking towards Zhou Yuji's car.

When he came to the car, Emperor Chongzhen said, "General Zhou and I will sit in a car!" ”

Zhou Yuji was stunned for a moment, and hurriedly said, "Thank you, Emperor!" Waiting for Emperor Chongzhen to do a good job in the car, Zhou Yuji sat in the co-pilot seat. Everyone got on the bus and the convoy drove off the platform.

As soon as he got out of the platform, Emperor Chongzhen's eyes kept looking out of the window, although it couldn't be compared with Yaogang here, but in a remote place like Hetao, there could be so many high-rise buildings and so many shops, which still made Emperor Chongzhen unexpected.

I couldn't help but say to Emperor Chongzhen: "No wonder Zhang Dongjia has always praised General Zhou's ability, and he really managed this place well!" ”

General Zhou hurriedly said: "Emperor Xie praises!" ”

"It's not me who praises you, it's Zhang Dongjia who praises you." The words were sour, and Zhou Yuji didn't deal with it. Emperor Chongzhen asked, "Why did you leave me one after another to follow Zhang Dongjia?" ”

Zhou Yuji was most afraid that the emperor would ask this sentence, and when the emperor asked, Zhou Yuji suddenly felt that there was nothing left, and said: "Your Majesty, the minister knows that no one wants to have a reputation of disloyalty and unfilial piety. The minister doesn't know how others are, and the minister has no other way. We have been in arrears for many years, and it is difficult to guarantee two porridges a day for the officers and men. If it weren't for Zhang Dong's help, if he didn't starve to death, he would have to rob the army. Li Zicheng came over, if it weren't for Zhang Dongjia's help, we would have died if we didn't surrender, and there was no possibility of victory. Later, we followed Zhang Dongjia to send troops to suppress thieves, which was also agreed by the emperor. But our soldiers, if it weren't for Zhang Dongjia's help in the reorganization, would not have had combat power at all. We eat Zhang Dongjia and use Zhang Dongjia. It was Zhang Dongjia who helped bury the dead in the battle, and it was Zhang Dongjia who helped to heal the wounded. Needless to say, it is impossible for the officers and men not to listen to Zhang Dongjia. Presumably the emperor also saw it, what is Shanxi like under the rule of Zhang Dongjia, what the people want, can we disobey? Zhang Dongjia has a large number of people, and there is no doubt about employing people, and he dares to hand over such a large piece of land as Hetao to me. Do you dare not be unsatisfied? Besides, if Zhang Dongjia gives us the opportunity to defeat our old enemy Mongols with my soldiers, I should not forget the kindness of Zhang Dongjia! ”

originally wanted to humiliate Zhou Yuji's meaning, but after Zhou Yuji finished speaking, Emperor Chongzhen had nothing to say. With a long sigh, "Alas! You all have a point! Even the rebellious Li Yan is full of truth. It's just that I, the emperor, have no reason! ”

Zhou Yuji said, "If you don't have the ability, don't be the emperor!" But he didn't dare to say it. He knew that Zhang Zhimu respected the emperor, and he didn't dare to be presumptuous.

Coming to Baotou Hotel, Emperor Chongzhen and Queen Zhou are very satisfied, although it is not as magnificent as Yaogang Hotel, but the guest rooms, the general facilities are basically complete, and the conditions far exceed their imagination.

After a busy time, as soon as the door of the suite was closed, Empress Zhou said to Emperor Chongzhen: "I didn't expect that there could be such a good hotel in such a wild place, and our capital is so big, and there is no such thing." ”

Emperor Chongzhen smiled and said, "There is a hotel in the capital, can we still leave the Forbidden City to live in a hotel?" Those ministers had to turn the sky upside down the next day, saying that I was unruly. Don't look at them in the kiln and don't say anything, they will immediately have a different face when they go back! ”

Queen Zhou sighed: "Zhou Yuji, a general soldier, has such a great ability to govern this place like this. Unexpected! ”

"What is his ability, it is all done according to the kiln!" Emperor Chongzhen said disdainfully.

Emperor Chongzhen looked out of the window, and the streets outside the window were full of cars and cars, and people were coming and going, which was very lively. couldn't help but say: "Looking at such a street, I can see that the border gate is really worry-free!" ”

"Yes! Emperor. From childhood to adulthood, I always feel excited when I mention Mongolians! I'm afraid that one day they will call again. Empress Zhou said.

"There will be no more days like that, and next year Zhang Dongjia will send people to the north to defeat the Mongols completely. At that time, I discussed with Zhang Dongjia, I wanted the Zen position to be given to him, to see if he was willing? ”

"Your Majesty, can you do this?"

"Huh! Zhang Dongjia wants this throne, and no one can stop it; He doesn't want it, give it to him, and he won't want it either! Emperor Chongzhen said with a smile.

Emperor Chongzhen They arrived in Baotou in the morning, had lunch in the hotel at noon, and Zhou Yuji set up a banquet to entertain Emperor Chongzhen in the evening.

Since Emperor Chongzhen asked him why he went to Yaogang, Zhou Yuji felt relaxed, without a little ideological burden, and he was calm when he saw Emperor Chongzhen. At the dinner, Prince Tori also came to give a salute to Emperor Chongzhen, and also brought a song and dance performance on the grassland. The performance with ethnic customs added a warm atmosphere to the dinner. These were supposed to be performed at the banquet after the track-laying ceremony.

Prince Tori changed so quickly, which Zhou Yuji didn't expect. Zhou Yuji just said to Prince Tori: "We Mr. Zhang said that we all have special respect for the emperor. If His Royal Highness does not respect our emperor, he does not have to attend the ceremony. ”

"Ahh No, no, if I want to participate, I'll listen to Zhang Dongjia. Zhang Dongjia said that we should respect His Majesty the Emperor, and we will respect His Majesty. "Prince Tori is also a very smart person, how can Zhang Zhimu not understand such words.

At the banquet, while he was happy, Zhou Yuji said to the emperor: "Your Majesty, I have good news to tell you!" ”

"Oh! Tell me about it! ”

"That's right, at the beginning of this year, we started the railway construction project from Baotou to Guihua (Hohhot). After nearly a year of construction, the roadbed is basically almost repaired. Several concrete bridges have been built on the road. Tomorrow we and Prince Tori and they will have a ceremony to start laying the tracks. I want to invite the emperor to participate in the ribbon cutting, I don't know if the emperor can enjoy the light? ”

"That's a good thing! I'm going to cut the ribbon for you. Emperor Chongzhen knew that cutting the ribbon was a matter of showing his face, "Oops! If you build the railway to Naturalization (Hohhot), you will be closely connected to the Tumut and our side. ”

"The Emperor Shengming!" Zhou Yuji whispered, "The emperor can't say this." ”

"Oh! Hehe! I understand! Emperor Chongzhen said, "Just like Zhang Dongjia said, we are building a railway for the convenience of the lives of the people of all ethnic groups!" ”

"Haha!" The monarch laughed loudly. In the distance, the officials of the Ming Dynasty were a little sour. Someone said, "What is there to be presumptuous about a guy who sells for glory?" ”

"Humph! The emperor too, is such a person worthy of this? ”

“”

These people talk about all kinds of dissatisfaction, but the taste in their mouths still makes them constantly send delicious wine and food to their mouths. Looking at the Mongolian girl who danced, she was not as ugly as she thought at first, and she was much worse than the waiters in the Yaogang Hotel. But the more I drank the wine, the more I felt that the Mongolian girl was also very beautiful.

Regarding them, Zhang Zhimu greeted the prince. Remind them that the waitresses in the hotel are all regular employees, and if anyone is rude to them, they will be punished by the kiln gang law. And it doesn't matter who it is.

The prince told Emperor Chongzhen about this, and Emperor Chongzhen also specially reminded the civil and military personnel, "If any of you make a fool of yourself in such a thing and are dealt with in Yaogang, I suggest that you don't go back to Beijing and bring the ugliness back!" ”

Therefore, although these adults ate steel and steel in the kiln, none of them dared to really do anything to the hotel waiters. Yaogang Hotel is also very careful, female waitresses are generally followed by male waiters, try not to give others the opportunity to try.

For this matter, Empress Zhou also said to Emperor Chongzhen: "Eat so well in Yaogang!" Those adults didn't bring their families with them, and it was difficult for them to come out for such a long time! ”

"Haha!" Emperor Chongzhen laughed and said, "I didn't expect this. I didn't want to stay in the kiln for so long! ”

Cutting the ribbon for the track-laying ceremony in Baotou, Emperor Chongzhen felt that it was also very beautiful. Thousands of people gathered outside to watch the ribbon-cutting ceremony, and Emperor Chongzhen didn't expect it. Because of such a place, it is really a novelty to hear that the emperor is coming, and people come to join in the fun regardless of whether they can see it or not.

After cutting the ribbon, Emperor Chongzhen watched the first row of steel rails be laid. The train, with a track-laying machine, lifted a row of rails from the train carriage, stretched it out to the paved roadbed, and slowly lowered it, and the workers went up to align the rails and connect the rails. The train can then be driven onto the newly laid steel rails and laid in the next row.

Emperor Chongzhen was very interested in watching this track-laying process, and he had been watching a few rows of rails in the cold wind, and he was still unsatisfied. asked Zhou Yuji, "This rail was nailed to the sleeper in advance and then installed on the car?" ”

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Zhou Yuji said, "In the past, we didn't have rail-laying cars, we all put the sleepers on the roadbed, and then lifted the rails to the sleepers and nailed them with steel nails. That is too inefficient, we nail the rails and sleepers in the workshop, it is simple and convenient. Once you get here, you're done. ”

"Oops! You guys are amazing. Emperor Chongzhen said with a thumbs up.

Emperor Chongzhen's participation in the railroad track-laying ceremony has another symbolic meaning, which Prince Tori does not know, that is, to declare that this is the land of the Ming Dynasty. Otherwise, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty would not have come here to cut the ribbon.

After Emperor Chongzhen participated in the ribbon cutting, he immediately said to Zhou Yuji: "General Zhou, let's go and see the land you have cultivated!" ”

Zhou Yuji said: "Please! Emperor. ”

Now the land is not frozen through, and there are still many tractors turning over the deep harvest on the endless land. Emperor Chongzhen looked at the farming tractor in the cold wind and was deeply touched, "General Zhou! This tractor has more than ten cows on top! ”

"Yes, Your Majesty!" "Without tractors and other machinery, we wouldn't be able to cultivate so much land. In the autumn, you didn't come, and we used machinery to harvest the wheat. ”

"Huh! I saw your harvester in Henan. Emperor Chongzhen said, "That's good! Especially here, you are sparsely populated, and machinery is more useful. ”

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Zhou Yuji pointed to this piece and said, "This place has been cultivated for several years, and next year it will not be ready to be deeply ploughed." In the future, rotary tillage technology will be used. Tractors can go to clear new land. ”

"Rotary tillage technology?" Emperor Chongzhen heard this term for the first time.

Zhou Yuji explained: "In the future, we will use a knife that can rotate at high speed instead of a plow, and break the heels of the crops. This can be highly productive! ”

"I said, General Zhou, when did you learn to farm?" Emperor Chongzhen asked with interest.

"I don't need to, we have a special research on farming in the kiln." Zhou Yuji said, "Your Majesty, look over there, we grow bud rice and soybeans. A few rows of buds, a few rows of soybeans. The results are abundant, and this is a new method of farming. We have a lot of old crop handles here, and we were not convinced at first, but now they are all convinced. Do what people say, it's really prolific! ”

Yaogang is always aware of the movements of Emperor Chongzhen. Zhang Zhimu didn't expect Emperor Chongzhen to visit the reclamation area for a few days.

In the command center, Ouyang He said with a smile: "It seems that General Zhou still has a way, and our emperor has not embarrassed him!" ”

"Huh!" Chen Yufeng smiled and said, "I think Zhou Yuji didn't embarrass the emperor!" Zhou Yuji's industrial and agricultural population exceeded one million last year! The output value quadrupled in a year, and Emperor Chongzhen couldn't stand up in front of Zhou Yuji! ”

Ouyang He said: "General Ningde's track laying is also going smoothly. The locomotive was also ignited, and it is estimated that it will be able to go online without any problem. However, General Ningde sent a telegram saying that some Hui people in Ningxia Wei (Yinchuan) were not stable and would make trouble if they were not good. ”

"I want to remind General Ningde about this, don't be careless. The issue of the Muslims has always been a headache. Zhang Zhimu said, "Li Zhi should be allowed to work hard over there as soon as possible, this matter must be grasped unremittingly, they are hidden dangers in all dynasties." Supposedly, our policy is enlightened enough, and the people there are recovering from life, so there shouldn't be any problems. I think let the second uncle secretly send someone to find out, is there any problem with our officials' work? ”

Ouyang He said: "Mr. Zhang is right, let's find the reason in us first." However, I think it is likely that our policy, which the Muslim upper echelons are not happy with, is that the clergy cannot hold administrative positions. They prefer a theocratic approach. Often they use religious means, and the people easily listen to them. Especially when the days are better, as soon as people have leisure, idle things will come out. ”

"The clergy cannot hold administrative positions, this is an iron law that can never be broken." Zhang Zhimu said, "Even if you bleed, you can't shake it." No, then there is no end to it. ”

"In peacetime, the national question is really a big problem!" Ouyang He said, "We will slowly encounter more problems like this. ”

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New progress in "Memories of the Southern Song Dynasty": the Battle of Yashan, the defeat of the Yuan army, the counterattack of the Song army, and the landing in Fuzhou.