As soon as the drums of the early dynasty passed, the civil and military officials slowly entered the Fengtian Hall according to their respective product sequences, knelt three times and bowed nine times, and the mountain shouted long live, and the process was completed before they were arranged in the hall. Liu Yuliang, as the first assistant of the cabinet, naturally ranks first among the ministers.

This is the last time Liu Yuliang attended the court meeting before leaving Beijing, and after the court meeting, he will be summoned privately by the emperor according to the usual practice, and after the performance is completed, he can go to the cabinet to hand over and take up his post as a military intelligence inspector. These things have already been decided, and although the future is uncertain, the mood at the meeting is still relatively relaxed.

For several days, the court meeting was full of discussions on how to deal with the Tartars, and finally decided on a compromise plan of having the first assistant supervise the military situation, and the ministers were satisfied, and the emperor was also satisfied. In Zhu Youzhen's eyes, the biggest problem of the ministers is that they dare not use their lives, which is the fundamental reason why the decrees of the imperial court are shirked and inefficient. Therefore, after he ascended the throne, he devoted a considerable amount of energy to thinking about how to ensure that the minister did not seek personal gain. The soldiers and horses of the King of Qin in the world were led by Lu Xiangsheng, and there were great strategists like Yang Sichang in the court, Zhu Youzhen couldn't think of any other reason besides the reason that he didn't dare to use his life.

Therefore, it was imperative for Liu Yuliang to go south, and he invited himself to go out of Beijing to supervise the military at the court, which made Zhu Youzhen suddenly open. However, he has more important decisions to announce at today's court meeting.

Zhu Youzhen ordered the eunuch to read last night's military report. The sharp and piercing sound echoed in the Fengtian Temple, and the civil and military officials pricked up their ears for fear of missing something, so as to prevent a business trip when playing the right game. But after listening to it, I suddenly felt unbelievable, how did a small county town in Gaoyang City hold back the main force of Dolgon's left wing army for so long?

Many people's first reaction was that it was likely that someone was lying about their military exploits, but after thinking about it, Gaoyang is a small city, first, there are no ministers of the imperial court here, and second, there is no army on the side. It is inconceivable to lie about military merits or not, and to be able to hold back the Tartar army.

Zhu Youjian looked around at the Chinese military officials in the hall and asked, "All the ministers, tell me what you all think." ”

The emperor's voice fell, and the ministers whispered.

Yang Sichang came out of the class and said: "If you have rewarded merit and punished, you can do it according to the rules!" ”

When the ministers heard that Yang Sichang had built such a plan, they immediately echoed it. Zhu Youzhen glanced at Yang Sichang dissatisfied, he ordered someone to send a copy of this military report to Yang's mansion as soon as possible last night, and hinted at it in Zhu's criticism, why is it so unopen today?

"The minister also has a play!"

The person who came out of the class was Zuo Shaoqing Fan Fucui of Dali Temple. Zhu Youzhen motioned for him to speak freely.

"The minister believes that although the first battle of Gaoyang has not yet achieved substantial results, it is difficult to hold back the tens of thousands of troops of Dolgon, and it has won valuable time for the soldiers and horses of the garrison Qin Wang to go north. Those who have merit are rewarded, and those who have the ability are promoted! ”

Zhu Youzhen nodded and thought so. Fan Fucui's words were simply paving the way for his next arrangement, and he couldn't help but look at him a few more times, this little old man is really becoming more and more likeable. There are many people who dare to speak and advise, but there are very few people who dare to speak and advise and can perceive the holy will.

"Lord Fan's words are inappropriate!"

The speaker in the class was Xue Guoguan, the left attendant of the Ministry of Rites, who stepped forward and saluted Zhu Youzhen on the throne.

"Long live Qi Song, the minister thinks what Lord Fan said is inappropriate......"

Xue Guoguan was talking to himself, and he seemed to have no idea at all, and Zhu Youzhen's face gradually cooled down.

Fan Fucui asked rhetorically: "Dare to ask Master Xue what's wrong?" ”

"The whole thing is just a military report without tangible evidence, if the imperial court decides to reward merit and promotion based on this, if there is something untrue in the future, how should the imperial court deal with it?"

It's really as Xue Guoguan said, the ministers were just induced by the emperor to preconceive that this matter must be true, but once someone finds out the hidden worries, everyone suddenly realizes that they are in line with this statement, which is very reasonable. Fan Fucui's sentences are standing at the starting point of the public heart of the imperial court, and Xue Guoguan pointed out the hidden worries because he was not angry, but asked in a discussing tone.

"Dare to ask again, according to Lord Xue's opinion, how should the imperial court deal with this military report, it seems that there is something wrong with nothing happening."

"What's wrong? When the dust falls, what does it matter if you reward and punish you? If the credit is real, who can erase it? ”

The imperial court originally had this precedent, and it is understandable that Xue Guoguan was built in such a big way. But a shadowy voice came from among the hundred officials.

"Lord Xue is like this, I'm afraid it's selfish!"

This sentence was like stepping on Xue Guoguan's tail, and he didn't care about the loss of honor in front of the king, Huo turned around, and searched for the person who said that he was selfish. This is also not because Xue Guoguan is not angry, the emperor's preferences as a cabinet minister he knows very well, and he hates his subordinates for being selfish, this person is tantamount to pouring dirty water on him and stabbing him with a knife.

Xue Guoguan's gaze finally locked on the face of an ugly-looking old man, and he looked as if he had eaten a fly. He was uncomfortable not because of this person's ugliness, but because of this person's special status.

This bad old man is the teacher of Zhu Youzhen, the son of today, and Zhang Sizhi, the right waiter of the Ministry of Rites.

I saw Zhang Sizhi cough dryly, and slowly walked out of the class: "Xue Xiang's mind can hide long live, but he can't hide the old decay." ”

"You, you got it right!"

Zhang Sizhi sneered.

"Lord Liu, the first assistant, is about to leave Beijing, and Xue Xiang, as the second assistant, will naturally rise to the top!"

"Hmph, what does this have to do with military retribution?"

Xue Guoguan brushed his sleeves and reprimanded.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Sizhi came to the top of the Danqi in a few steps, and bowed to Zhu Youzhen on the throne.

"The minister impeached Xue Guoguan, used power for personal gain, and regarded the family and the country as child's play!"

Zhu Youzhen was made to cry and laugh on the throne, he was originally discussing military affairs, how could he have made it a joke again, this topic is a little far away today, as the host of the court meeting, he feels that it is necessary to bring the court discussion back to the topic.

"Master Zhang, please hurry up, why is this coming, today only the militaristic state will be discussed, and the impeachment matter will be discussed another day."

Zhu Youzhen hurriedly helped him on the throne and asked Zhang Sizhi to get up.

Who knew that this Zhang Sizhi couldn't afford to prostrate, "Long live the minister's invitation, and the minister can't kneel on this dan mound." Zhu Youzhen had no choice but to order the little eunuch to go down the stairs to help Zhang Sizhi get up.

Zhu Youzhen attaches the most importance to honesty and filial piety, Zhang Sizhi is his teacher Although he has all kinds of problems, as long as it has nothing to do with the overall situation, he will let him toss, and now he is just angry with his colleagues in the palace, how can he reprimand?

Xue Guoguan was trembling by Zhang Sizhi's anger, he had deposed a paper when he was the examiner of Chunqiu a few years ago, and the owner of the paper was Zhang Sizhi's youngest son, since then the two families have become enemies, but he didn't expect him to stumble on himself at this moment.

"You, you don't spew blood!"

Zhang Sizhi got up with the support of the little eunuch, bent down deeply and went to return the salute to the emperor and disciple on the throne, and then turned around and raised his head and raised his voice.

"Gaoyang Military is fake? The old decay sees that your public heart is false before it is true. Zhang Sizhi swallowed his saliva and continued: "The one in Gaoyang City is the elder of the Three Dynasties and the teacher of the first emperor, Sun Zhisheng. The old man had heard that Sun Ge had destroyed his family a few months ago to relieve the difficulties, sold all his family wealth to build the Gaoyang City Wall, and recruited the people. Do you know about this? ”

"It's the first time I've heard of it!"

Xue Guoguan's preparations were not enough, and he didn't know much about Sun Chengzong's actions in Gaoyang, but when he heard Zhang Sizhi say it, he was also surprised that Sun Chengzong was so loyal.

"Do you know about the Guanjin Defense Line?"

"Who doesn't know about the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty?"

Zhang Sizhi sneered proudly.

"Elder Sun Ge can defend the Guanjin defense line without leaking, can't he use that Gaoyang City to drag down the Tartar army? If Gaoyang City had not dragged the Tartars, I am afraid that the provinces that had been plundered would not only be Zhili, but Shandong, Henan, and Southern Zhili would all face the Tartar soldiers. Are you afraid that Long Live Sun Ge Lao will be reactivated, and you are afraid of Sun Ge Lao's ability, and you are worried that there will be another obstacle on your way to advance to the first assistant, and you will slander this great merit as nothing, you say, what are you not selfish? ”

Xue Guoguan had already realized that something was wrong when he heard Zhang Sizhi ask about the Guan Jin defense line, and he trembled with anger when he saw him so analogous, can the Guan Jin defense line and Gaoyang City be the same thing? Outside the Liaodong Guan, there is the silver of the imperial court to support, and the cooperation of the famous Guanning Iron Cavalry has such achievements. What's in Goyang City? Sun Chengzong destroyed his family to relieve difficulties, his Sun family is full of iron, and how many nails can he make? Gaoyang City is even lower and dilapidated, and there is not a single soldier yet, and it is more debatable how much the newly recruited people can play.

But these truths are understood by themselves, but they cannot be made public, and if Sun Chengzong is denied from this defense, it will be the truth that Zhang Sizhi impeached him for personal gain.

At this point, Xue Guoguan had a hard time arguing, so he could only lie down and complain to Zhu Youzhen for his guilt.

"Please long live the old minister's decision, Zhang Si knows that he is spewing blood, I Xue Guoguan dare to swear in front of the emperor, if there is a little selfishness, five thunders will hit the top, and there will be no place to bury him!"

Zhu Youzhen's face was already ugly, but he still persuaded him with good words, and when the country was in danger, he let all the ministers unite sincerely, and did not pursue Zhang Sizhi's accusation against Xue Guoguan. These accusations against Xue Guoguan, the ministers saw it in their eyes, and they all had rods and scales in their hearts, whether it was bloody or not, they all counted tightly.

Xue Guoguan got up from the ground with tears in his eyes and returned to the sequence, but his heart was cold, he knew that he would not be able to take the position of first assistant in this life, and there was a little more resentment in his eyes when he looked at Zhang Sizhi.

Seeing that the dispute had landed, and the emperor's meaning was very obvious, Yang Sichang stood up to clean up the mess.

"Long live, Gaoyang's great achievements, it is natural for the imperial court to pay attention to it, but the communication is not smooth in wartime, it is better to send important ministers to go with the holy decree in person, if there is a heavy reward, if not, it will be encouraged."

Zhu Youzhen couldn't help nodding, this is what Lao Cheng said.

Shoufu Liu Yuliang, who was squinting at the play, heard Yang Sichang say this, and suddenly felt that the atmosphere was not good, and an ominous premonition hit his heart.

Note: Danqi refers to the red steps and ground of the palace.