"Minister Zhang Tingyu has seen the emperor, long live my emperor, long live long live!"

Zhang Tingyu kowtowed to Kangxi and shouted. It was not early, he was staying at home, but Li Dequan suddenly came to him with Kangxi's message and ordered him to enter the palace immediately. The will of the Divine Providence was so great that he didn't even bother to eat dinner, so he hurried over.

"Flat! …… Tingyu, listen to Li Dequan, you haven't eaten dinner yet? Kangxi greeted Zhang Tingyu with a kind face, and asked gently.

"Go back to the emperor, the minister is not hungry!" Zhang Tingyu got up and replied.

"Hahaha...... Don't you know how many things you do in a day? Forget it, I didn't eat either, so you can eat with me. Kangxi laughed.

"Your Majesty, the ...... minister" gives food for no reason? Zhang Tingyu wanted to shirk a few more sentences, but Kangxi had already turned to the back of the palace, and he had no choice but to chase after Li De.

"Well, this bean yolk is good, Tingyu, you can taste it......"

Dining with the emperor is a great favor, but it is also a bad thing. Kangxi eats happily by himself, and he has to say a few words from time to time, but Zhang Tingyu, who has always been "silent after eating", is enough to 'torture'. He has to respond to the emperor's words, he is always grateful, even if he is loyal, he will feel unhappy!

"I'm not so comfortable anymore. Tingyu, do you know why? Kangxi ate and asked, Zhang Tingyu.

"Weichen respectfully listens to the emperor's instructions!" Zhang Tingyu put down his chopsticks and arched his hand towards Kangxi, if he wasn't still sitting in his seat, he might have found a place to kneel.

"......" Kangxi was a little depressed by Zhang Tingyu's serious answer, but he could only look at the other party helplessly, "It's not that I said you, Tingyu, you are really a piece of wood." You should learn from Gao Shiqi and don't be so straight all day long. ”

"Gao Xiangcai is Gao Badou, and he is witty. When he was a teenager, he was called 'Piri Yangqiu Gentleman' and was scheming, so he could easily laugh at the world's affairs, and Weichen was incomparable. Your Majesty, you let the ministers learn from him, which makes the ministers a little embarrassed. Zhang Tingyu replied unhurriedly.

"Yes, Gao Shiqi......" Kangxi shook his head and put down his chopsticks. Among the four ministers of your upper study now, he is the only one who has been with me for the longest time. It's a pity, this guy is just a little too smart! ”

"Your Majesty, ...... you want to stop Gao Shiqi?" Zhang Tingyu couldn't help but frown a little. I haven't heard of Gao Shiqi causing anything recently.

"Hehe, don't think crooked!" Kangxi smiled and waved his hand, "It's just a pity that Gao Shiqi is too shrewd, although he reads a lot, his mind is too lively, so that he has less loyalty!" Especially in the past few years, everything has not been touched. Always thinking about protecting oneself. I was disappointed. ”

"Your Majesty, Weichen dares to guarantee that you are absolutely loyal to your emperor! It's just ......" Zhang Tingyu heard this. hurriedly said to Kangxi.

"It's just that he has a good wife, especially a young son, so he doesn't want to cause trouble, right?" Kangxi laughed twice, "This, why don't I know?" If it weren't for that, how would I have let him wander there? ”

"The emperor has insight!" Zhang Tingyu bowed and replied.

"Okay, your Zhang Tingyu's kung fu is not good, so let's talk less about this kind of nice sound." , Kangxi smiled and said, "Do you know why I summoned you?" ”

"Please show the emperor!" Zhang Tingyu hugged his fists.

"I know you're tight-mouthed, so. I want to talk to you about the prince and the elder brothers! Kangxi said slowly.

"......" Zhang Tingyu was stunned, don't look at his usual composure, but Kangxi's words really stunned him: "Your Majesty, the ministers and ministers are stupid, they don't understand the holy will, and they beg the emperor to make it clear." ”

"Stupid? Hehe, although you Zhang Tingyu are usually silent, everyone knows it in your heart. Your mind is more agile than anyone else. Among the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty, I am afraid that only Gao Shiqi can compare with you. Don't worry, I'm just trying to talk to you. Nothing else! Kangxi smiled.

"Chen ......" knew that Gao Shiqi was here together! Zhang Tingyu secretly called unlucky. Nothing else? Who believes? Such a scheming and extraordinary emperor would come to him for a chat and play for no reason? Maybe there is some step by step and ten pit tricks to play out.

"In the past few years, my heart has been bitter!"

After dinner, Kangxi took Zhang Tingyu back to the upper study.

"The minister is guilty!" The emperor is bitter, it must be the following problem. Zhang Tingyu is an exemplary minister, so he immediately kowtowed and pleaded guilty.

"Guilty? …… You're being honest! Kangxi didn't ask Zhang Tingyu to stand up, but just looked at him with a wry smile, and continued: "I have been on the throne for more than 40 years, and the courtiers say all the good things in front of me every day, all the words that praise the saints, what the world is peaceful, the people support, what the eternal heroes, the prosperity of the Xi Dynasty, in fact, these are all official articles on the surface. I'm not a faint king, so I know it very well. More than a decade ago, these words might not have been too much, but now they can't be said. The country has been peaceful for a long time, and the shortcomings have been "exposed", and in the past few years, it has almost reached an unbearable level. The first is that officials are corrupt, and almost no officials are not greedy. Anhui disaster, but there are provincial officials who are greedy for ink, regardless of the life and death of the people, which dynasty and which generation have such things? The second is to form parties for personal gain, and there are many portals. First is Mingzhu and Suo Etu, and then there are the prince and Zhu Elder Brothers. When one person attains the Tao, the chicken and dog ascend to heaven. When one side is in trouble, all sides echo. It's so intertwined that it's almost unbreakable. There are also uneven taxes, poor livelihoods, unequal prisons, complaints, land annexation, and a deficit in the national treasury, and fraud in the examination room from time to time, etc., all of which are shocking! …… Even now, the situation in the court is only slightly better, and the common people still haven't changed. ”

Zhang Tingyu's body moved, he didn't expect Kangxi to suddenly spit out these words, although he knew a lot of things that he couldn't hide from Kangxi, but he still didn't expect Kangxi to know so much, let alone be blinded by the words of the officials in the court. You must know that there are many things that even ministers who have the power to make secret arrangements may not dare to report to the court. It seems that Kangxi really wants to say something tonight, since that's the case. He can't always hide it, otherwise, it will really make Kangxi unhappy. At the moment, he thought about it, and then continued Kangxi's words and said:

"The emperor has a deep understanding of the malpractices of the government. However, Wechen doesn't understand, why don't you make a painful rectification? Although there are some "traitors" in the DPRK and China, most of the officials are still good. In particular, there are some who dare to do anything. Talents who can relieve the emperor's worries ......"

"Yes, there are indeed quite a few talented people in the DPRK and China. Not to mention the old, there are many young. You Zhang Tingyu is only thirty now, which is the number one, in addition to Ma De, Yu Zhong, Shi Shilun, Shi Shifat, You Mingtang, Zhang Boxing...... It can be regarded as a wealth of talents. It's just a pity ......" Kangxi smiled and said, "I'm old, and I don't have enough energy." ”

"Your Majesty, you have just passed the year of knowing the destiny of heaven, and the dragon is in good health. Good health maintenance. It may not be impossible to live another sixtieth birthday. Where is the lack of energy? Weichen is bold, please ask the emperor to take back what Fang Cai said! Zhang Tingyu hurriedly said.

"Hehe, I know my own business!" Kangxi smiled. "I'm in pretty good health, though. However, after all, he is still old, and there are too many things to deal with, so how can there be so much spirit. Moreover, it has been nearly 50 years since I ascended the throne, which is rare in all dynasties, and I am already content. It's just that I'm still a little afraid, afraid that when I will suddenly leave and leave a mess! ”

"The Emperor's ......"

"I was expecting Yinren and them to take care of all these things for me. Unexpectedly, none of them can be relied on. Incompetently incompetent, selfish and selfish, the ability to fight for power and profit is not small, but what to do is not even know how to stretch out a hand! So...... I have seen through it, and the malpractices of the government have accumulated and it is difficult to return. I have to ask about this matter personally, and I ask it one by one, one by one. Only by making up your mind to the end can you be cured. However, without ten or twenty years of hard work, how can these things be handled clearly? So, again, I'm old, if I suddenly withdraw from the west after half of it, who among my sons can inherit it, won't it ruin my first fame? Moreover, I don't want to see that my own group of sons are the backstage of these people! …… Hengchen, you know what? That's my problem! I can't kill my own sons, can I? ”

Kangxi's words, although his tone was relatively light, Zhang Tingyu listened to it very painfully. Who would have thought that Kangxi, the emperor, was also in a dilemma, and there was almost no way out?

"Today is the happiest day I've ever had in years!"

Originally, an emperor could not "show" his bottom so much in front of his courtiers, but Zhang Tingyu was almost half-dumb in the court, and he acted on weekdays, so Kangxi had enough trust in him and was not worried that he would leak these words out. And Kangxi complained bitterly for a while, and the depression that had been held in his heart for a long time finally dissipated a lot, and soon said with a smile to Zhang Tingyu.

"The emperor's happiness is a blessing for the whole world!" Zhang Tingyu had already been allowed to stand up, and when he heard this, he bowed down and said.

"You're a sycophant again!" Pointing at Zhang Tingyu with a smile, Kangxi put his hands behind his back and said, "Tingyu, have you heard about what Ferdinand told Brother Zhu today?" ”

"This matter spread quickly, and Wechen heard about some ......," Zhang Tingyu replied.

"Do you know what he meant by those words?" Kangxi asked with a smile again.

"Weichen is stupid, please ask the emperor for advice!" Zhang Tingyu bowed and said.

"He's admonishing me!" Kangxi said.

"Admonishment?"

"That's right." Kangxi took a long breath, "He's telling me, in fact, the matter of the princes fighting for power and profit is not difficult to solve!" ”

"Your Majesty, what you said is that if you send your elder brothers to various places...... Zhang Tingyu is a smart person, a smart person, and naturally knows the hidden meaning of Kangxi's words very clearly.

"That's right." Kangxi nodded: "The prince is incompetent, he has repeatedly lost the hearts of the people, and all the elder brothers see it in their eyes, and their hearts are all hot, and their eyes are red, so they want to come up and compete for the throne and compete for my position in the world." The prince saw it in his eyes, was anxious, and was unwilling to be restrained, so he fought back. …… The advantage of the prince is power and status, but the strength of the elder brother is the ability to do things and popularity, and now no one can deal with anyone. It's just that. It's a pity they forgot who I am! I am not the second Qin who lost the deer of the world, they wanted to chase the deer of the Central Plains, but they got it wrong. …… I've been teaching these buddies since they were young, but I've still not been able to do it. What should an emperor do? They actually thought that whoever was the strongest and the most powerful could seize the throne. Amusing! Ridiculous! …… I reigned forty-five years. A merit that is not inferior to any emperor in the past two thousand years! As long as I am still here, which round will they fight for? The throne requires a person with a lot of knowledge and a big article in his heart to be able to sit on it. Just ambition, can play tricks, do not have the courage to be far-sighted, do not have the calmness of Mount Tai, they are also worthy? A bunch of stupid people! I really don't know how they can all be my sons! ……”

"The emperor is angry!" Seeing that Kangxi was a little angry as he spoke, Zhang Tingyu hurriedly stepped forward to persuade him.

"I'm not angry!" Kangxi sighed, "I originally thought. I can only live so uncomfortably for the rest of my life. Frightened, carefully choose a successor, maybe he will be ...... But now.

I just understood. It turns out that I still have a good road to go! …… Thanks to this Ferdinand! ”

"This is also thanks to the emperor's wisdom. Moreover, the prince came forward to guard it, which was naturally conducive to the rule of the imperial court over the surrounding areas! Zhang Tingyu said.

"Hehe, that's exactly what it means, but I've already gotten the news that someone out there is going to impeach Ferdinand...... I even know the reasons for their impeachment. Do you know? Those people said that since ancient times, the border generals have supported their own troops, which is often not conducive to the imperial court, and some people even took the story of Wu Sangui surrendering to the Qing Dynasty to counterattack Li Zicheng as an example. It's just laughing to death. Kangxi smiled.

"Which official is this? The emperor should punish him to go back and study hard for another ten years! Zhang Tingyu also said with a smile. Take the reason that Wu Sanzhu descended to the Qing Dynasty and counterattacked Li Zicheng, what is it if he is not an idiot? Besides, today's Qing Dynasty is not like the situation of previous dynasties. Border? Could the border be handed over to someone outside the imperial court? In fact, the meaning of Old Man Fei's words should actually be understood by everyone, that is, to divide all the princes into places where it is impossible to pose a threat to the imperial court, and at the same time can each be a local overlord and satisfy their desire for power. For example, the Nanyang area. Many large islands have been found there, and the area will not be inferior to that of a province, but. Stay there, even if you are strong, how much can you threaten the Qing Dynasty? And that continent, which is said to be the size of the territory of the four Great Qing Kingdoms, if there may be a prince who has fought in the past, I am afraid it will take at least one or two decades, and that continent is even more distant from the Qing Dynasty than the South Seas. If you want to get here, you have to take a boat! How many soldiers and horses can you bring back by boat to threaten the Qing Dynasty? Even if he can come back, I'm afraid the road will be enough for him. At that time, in the face of the counteroffensive of the entire Great Qing Kingdom, it would be good to be able to go back alive. What's more, the four Great Qing Kingdoms have the same land and territory, can't they stop the greed of those people? Coupled with the Qing Dynasty itself, are they dominant? …… Zhang Tingyu can also imagine another huge attraction of Ferdinand's suggestion to Kangxi: keep the Manchu bloodline! The Manchus, especially the upper echelons of the Manchus, never thought of themselves as real Chinese. They were extremely afraid that the Han people would rebel and drove them back to their hometowns. This is also the reason why the ancestors of the Qing Dynasty wanted to keep the land of Manchuria and not let the Han people set foot on it. It's not just to leave a "hometown" for your children and grandchildren, just in case! Although Kangxi is gradually opening up Manchuria with great courage, if he can build another country belonging to the Manchus in another place, wouldn't it be a double insurance? This is a place that can replace Manchuria for Kangxi, who has actually violated the laws of his ancestors, and it can also be said to be a "compensation" for his ancestors, and at the same time, it is also a huge temptation for those brothers who have the desire for imperial power. In the Qing Dynasty national battle, who knows who will win in the end? Once defeated, it is a dead end! But what if it's somewhere else? The Great Qing Kingdom is the backing! In today's world, which country can be compared to the Qing Dynasty? Since the ancestors were able to raise troops with seventeen pairs of armor, conquer the Central Plains of Manchuria, Mongolia, and establish the current Great Qing Kingdom, why can't the descendants build such feats? Especially now, when many conditions are countless times better!

"Your Majesty, although Ferdinand has proposed these things, I am afraid it is not so easy to really act!" After laughing and talking for a while, Zhang Tingyu said to Kangxi again.

"I know that. The prosperous land of the Qing Dynasty is indeed difficult to give up! However, it is better to have a way out than to hold back the fire, Tingyu, what do you think? Kangxi let out a sigh and said.

"The emperor is wise!"

"Haha......" Kangxi smiled, and continued: "This matter will inevitably be another turmoil." I heard that Ma Qi and Zhong Guowei also seem to be a little involved. Maqi is a roundabout mansion, and the country is maintained...... I have something to say to them, and they won't buy Gao Shiqi's account, so I'm going to send you to remind them. ”

"Wechen understands! Bound to bring the words. Zhang Tingyu was stunned for a moment and immediately replied.

"That's good! You can do it yourself! Kangxi nodded, and said with a smile: "Tingyu, I summoned you this time, in addition to chatting and asking you to give Ma Qi and them a reminder, there is actually something I want to tell you...... Do you know? The 7,000 iron cavalry under the command of the Rehe Commander had been transferred to the Fengtai battalion, but the 7,000 soldiers and horses of the Fengtai battalion were first transferred to Rehe and then to Uriya Sutai. There is no approval from the Ministry of War for this matter! ”

"What?" , Zhang Tingyu's face suddenly changed color.