At the time of the family banquet, it is naturally inconvenient to talk too much about government affairs, and this harmonious scene is also very rare for the royal family.

When Empress Zhang was in Yanjing, she usually ate vegetarian food, and she was different from Chongzhen's aunt and sister-in-law, so it was usually inconvenient to meet often, and Chongzhen was in a bad mood over the years, and she rarely held a banquet in the palace with great fanfare as she did in the Wanli period, so although the location was shabby today, and there were very few eunuchs in the palace who were waiting, there were two large tables, which were much more lively and intimate than usual.

"Okay, I'm going to say goodbye to the emperor first."

Although it was affectionate, but in the end, the royal rules were big, and in less than half an hour, Queen Zhang stood up first.

She stood up, including Chongzhen, and everyone stood up.

This queen is very respected in the royal family, and at this time she has a sense of dilemma between her family and country, and in Chongzhen, she feels sorry for this imperial sister-in-law.

In his heart, he felt that the world was broken by Brother Apocalypse!

When he was in Yanjing, every time he went to Fengxian Hall to worship and passed by his father and brother's gods, Chongzhen never stopped, let alone worshipped.

But in any case, when he saw the imperial sister-in-law who was already over middle age in front of him, Chongzhen would feel guilty no matter what.

Fortunately, Empress Zhang never did much, let alone interfered in politics, and her foreign family was also strictly restrained, and she never dared to cause trouble.

So Chongzhen has more respect for this widowed sister-in-law.

"Brother is free, go to my palace and sit."

Empress Zhang herself lives in Xingning Palace, and the palace is also dilapidated, Chongzhen was cultivating Dezhai, and she was originally going to rebuild it, but Queen Zhang resolutely refused.

As soon as he heard her say at this time, Chongzhen said: "Did you hear it, I will go to the imperial aunt to say goodbye at night." ”

"Yes, Erchen knows!"

As soon as Empress Zhang left, Zhou Hou and Concubine Yuan and others also understood, knowing that it was Chongzhen's father and son who wanted to talk about serious political affairs, and they also got up and said goodbye one by one.

Then there are the princes, all of whom are long-sleeved and good at dancing, and they are very respectful.

For this eldest brother, one of them is young and has no thoughts at all, and second, this time they have also seen Zhu Cihong's ability, and they have no thoughts in their hearts.

Concubine Tian's princes are no more than twelve or thirteen years old now, and they may remember some of the events of that year, don't say that they don't dare to think about taking the heir, in the bottom of their hearts, I'm afraid that Zhu Cihong will find them to take revenge.

For a while, everyone was scattered, and the people of the eunuch palace also retreated outside the palace gate, Chongzhen looked at Zhu Cihong and said with a smile: "There are so many things, I don't know where to start for a while...... By the way, how many soldiers and horses did you bring into the city? ”

………… At the same time as Chongzhen's father and son started talking, Shi Kefa also walked out of the room where he was on duty.

Now the cabinet system has not been re-established, and there is no cabinet court room here in Nanjing, and Shi Kefa originally had his own office. When encountering a major event, he discussed it with Han Zanzhou and others before doing it.

But this original system can't be maintained now, Han Zanzhou and Gao Qiqian, the eunuchs, shrank together as soon as they entered the city, and they didn't know what they were doing, as for Gao Hongtu and others, they were also chattering recently, and Shi Kefa had a headache when he thought about it.

Looking at the city, there is no one who can rely on it and can do things.

Recently, the ministry treasury has been very difficult, and all localities are constantly asking for troops and salaries, Li Zicheng has a million soldiers, and Shandong, Jinan, and Henan are empty, and no one even thinks about running them...... Of course, Shi Kefa also had great doubts about this matter, and only Gong sent personnel to the north, and the bamboo basket was empty, in vain.

As for the south, Zhang Xianzhong made a mess in Hunan, and now he is going to Sichuan, and Zuo Liangyu is vigorously scourging Hubei, burning Xiangyang into a white ground...... As soon as he thought of this, Shi Kefa was also confused...... How to organize things in the future and how to go in the general direction, he really has nothing in his mind...... Take it one step at a time and see if you talk about it...... The emperor has to have something to say, right?

I was thinking about a headache, and I snapped my eyes, but I saw Zhao Zhilong and Liu Kongzhao, both of whom were crowned with beams on their heads, and they were wearing the clothes of the earl, dazzling and very beautiful.

"The two dukes come to take care of it, but what do you have to say?"

Returning to the room, he called the miscellaneous servants, and each person held a small blue and white tea bowl from the Chenghua kiln in his hand, and with the help of the tea smoke, Shi Kefa looked at the faces of the two of them, and slowly opened his mouth to ask.

Zhao Zhilong and Liu Kongzhao looked at each other and smiled, Liu Kongzhao raised the bowl in his hand high, and slowly sipped it, looking arrogant...... He looked down on Shi Kefa for a day or two, the whole city of Nanjing knew that this sincere uncle and Ma Shiying were wearing the same pants, and what he wanted was to get Lao Ma in and compete with Shi Kefa for the position of the first assistant of the cabinet.

Fortunately, Zhao Zhilong and Shi Kefa were still perfunctory, and immediately put the bowl in their hands, Zhao Zhilong blew his beard and glared: "Shi Gong, it's not that I'm talking too much, you're also weak!" ”

Shi Kefa frowned and said, "The student doesn't know why, so I have to ask my uncle to make it clear." ”

"A little lieutenant general of the bird, dare to talk to you so straight, Shi Gong, can you tolerate it? If I was replaced, I asked someone to take it down on the spot, stripped my pants and beat me forty, and then dismissed the matter...... How could he be as good-tempered as Shi Gong! ”

When it comes to this, Shi Kefa is inconvenient to speak, he and Nanjing Xun relatives don't get along well, especially after the support, it is basically a feeling of incompatibility.

In that case, there is no need to be too perfunctory.

After feeling Shi Kefa's cold attitude, Zhao Zhilong didn't go around in circles, he said bluntly: "Shi Gong, what is going on with the defense inside and outside the city now?" ”

"The Beijing camp will be returned to the internal garrison, and the north and south of the Yangtze River will be returned to the Yangtze River......" Shi Kefa asked very puzzled: "What does this mean, the students are very incomprehensible." ”

Now the forbidden army and the Yingjiang soldiers in Nanjing City are combined, and the number of registrations on the books may exceed 200,000, but everyone understands that it is impossible for the real strength to be calculated in this way.

The number of people who are eligible to receive salaries should be around 60,000.

With such a force, it is not possible to fight a war, and it is enough to defend the city, but it is just to maintain the security and defense of Nanjing City and the surrounding prefectures and counties in peacetime, as well as the safety of the Yangtze River waterway.

If there were really big soldiers coming, Jingying and Yejiang would definitely not be enough to see, and there would be no need at all. Therefore, Shi Kefa has never paid much attention to it, anyway, it is handed over to these lords and ministers, and they share power with each other, which is suitable for the way of the Ming Dynasty. He Shi Kefa theoretically controlled all the armies in the south, including at least a dozen strong towns along the Yangtze River, all of which were under his direct command.

The troops defending Nanjing and the Yangtze River were in the hands of the lords, and would not be under his direct control.

"The Imperial City and the Imperial City, should the pro-army guards be re-established, or will the internal garrison send the forbidden army to protect them?" Before Zhao Zhilong could answer, Liu Kongzhao said: "Now it is Tianjin Fubiao's soldiers guarding the palace city, to be honest, I am not very relieved!" And the number of people is too small, only about 2,000 people, Gong Guards Shengshang, the Imperial City, and the Palace City, how can such a few soldiers and horses be enough? Moreover, when the saint arrives in the southern capital, the governor's mansion must also have a governor in charge, right? Now the emperor has never summoned the ministers to the court, only Shi Gong can say that he can often drive, such a major event, the relationship is very great, of course, he can only rely on Shi Gong! ”

It was only at this point that Shi Kefa came to his senses...... These two uncles turned out to be grabbing power.

According to the Ming scripture system, it was originally the military department and the governor's office each had their own duties, but after the middle term, especially after the civil engineering, the power of the lords and military ministers was suppressed and invaded by the civil officials, and the governor's mansion was only an empty shell, but there were three points of nails in the broken ship, and it was enough for the governor's office to add titles to the ministers.

Now that Zhao Zhilong has brought Liu Kongzhao together, the thoughts of the two are also obvious.

What Zhao Zhilong wanted was to be able to control the capital in its entirety, including the imperial city and the palace city, at least, he had to maintain considerable influence.

And what Liu Kongzhao wants is to take charge of the affairs of the former government of the Governor's Mansion as a minister of Yejiang, and his identity will be on a higher level.

"What they said makes sense." Shi Kefa thought about it again, and finally said slowly: "However, as a student, it is inconvenient to make suggestions, so I have to be happy to see it happen." ”

This attitude is not to come out, and I don't oppose it, anyway, you lords' affairs, toss it yourself.

His reaction was also expected by Liu Kongzhao, Shi Kefa was unlikely to come to seize military power, especially the defense of the capital camp and the imperial city, which was too deep, and it had never been the scope of civilian officials, but the affairs of the lords and eunuchs.

At that moment, the two stood up together, looked at each other and smiled, and then arched their hands together: "Since that's the case, it's bothering." ”

"Don't dare, don't dare, the students are terrified."

Sent away two very difficult uncles, people who had been waiting under the steps outside, the sedan chair captain followed his entourage, holding all kinds of items, waiting for Shi Kefa to come out, as soon as he saw his figure, a small guy caught up with the box, knelt down in front of Shi Kefa, and whispered: "Master, the senior master of the household department said that Master Zhang, Master Jiang and others are in his house, please come over for a while." Also, Grandpa Xu sent someone to send a post, saying that there is something important, please go to the Guogong Mansion for a while, and ......"

"Alas, don't say it, I know it all!"

At this time, it was already a shadow slanting westward, Shi Kefa looked at the palace from afar, but saw a bleak and desolate scenery, mottled and broken scenes everywhere, gray and black everywhere connected into pieces, even a very small number of eunuchs wearing Yuan Qing and Azure Trolling, in this large area of gray and black, it has become a small black dot with no clear meaning.

"It's dark...... Shi Kefa shook his head lightly, muttered and walked down the stone steps, leaving only a slanted shadow behind him, showing weakness and erratic.

(To be continued)