On the morning of the ninth day of the second month of the twelfth year of Hongji.

The ministers were temporarily recruited, hurriedly entered the palace, and went in the direction of the Fengtian Temple.

Due to the emergence of a major military situation in the northwest, a noon dynasty was added on the same day, and all civil officials above the fifth rank in Beijing basically had to attend the noon dynasty as observers, and the imperial historians did not need to go, and the martial arts also had to perform their duties and were not among the people who entered the palace to participate in the noon dynasty.

“…… Is there a real fight in the Northwest? ”

When entering the palace, Ma Wensheng, the secretary of the Ministry of War, became the object of all civil officials to inquire about the news.

But Ma Wensheng adhered to the principle that the emperor did not let me say that I resolutely did not talk much, no matter who asked, he didn't hear it, even if Zhou Jing, the head of the household, took the opportunity to ask him, he didn't squeak.

Before the Temple of Heaven.

The civil servants lined up, and two scholars from the cabinet also came over from the cabinet room, and Li Dongyang, who has always been scheming, did not appear at the scene because he was presiding over the examination of the Ministry of Rites.

Immediately after their arrival, someone wanted to get information from them.

"When you go in, someone will understand, but now you don't know much about it......"

Xie Qian said a lot, and he set a tone for the cabinet, that is, he did not express opinions outside the court on the situation in the northwest.

The ministers were basically here, and I thought that the court meeting was about to begin.

But Xiao Jing came over and informed: "Ladies and gentlemen, Your Majesty still has something to deal with first, and then we will discuss it later." Please stay quiet......"

……

……

Inside the Qingning Palace.

The Empress Dowager Zhou had just finished worshipping the Buddha and got up with the help of the palace maids.

Jiang Lu hurriedly came in from outside, and he had something to report, but he couldn't speak.

"Stand down."

After Empress Dowager Zhou withdrew all the irrelevant people, Jiang Lu said the news he knew: "...... His Majesty had taken Jian Changbo to Fusi in Jinyi Weibei Town last night. ”

"Really? Early in the morning, the magpie crowed, and the eyebrows were happy. ”

Mrs. Zhou smiled behind her.

Jiang Lu said: "However, I found out from the Dongchang side, saying that when Jianchangbo entered the Fusi of Beizhen, he also brought people in, and this morning I don't know why, His Majesty ordered Dongchang to drive away all the people in Jianchangbo's Mansion." It was also strictly forbidden for anyone to visit. ”

Empress Dowager Zhou squinted her eyes and said with a deep expression: "It's rare to be able to put people in the edict prison, the emperor is a change of sex, and he is not afraid that the queen will give him problems?" What about the Emperor? ”

"It's in Kunning Palace." Jiang Lu said, "Today there is also a noon court meeting, and I just heard Xiao Gonggong of the Admiral Dongchang mention that it is said that the Tatars in the northwest are pouring out, and something big may happen in the northwest." ”

Empress Dowager Zhou looked worried.

She was someone who had experienced the changes in the Civil Fort, and she would be nervous whenever she heard anything about the Northwest.

"There is only one Wang Weining in the Ming Dynasty, and he was dismissed from his post and lived in Beijing......"

When the family country was in danger, the Empress Dowager Zhou, like her grandson, remembered that there was still a Wang Yue in the world, who might be of great use.

Jiang Lu hurriedly said: "Gonggong Xiao said that His Majesty has made arrangements for this, and after more than a month, Wang Weining may have gone to the northwest to lay out first, as if it was ...... It was still that Zhang Gongsheng who reminded His Majesty of the awakening. ”

"Oh, that's no wonder."

As soon as Empress Dowager Zhou heard that Zhang Zhou was involved in this matter, she instantly seemed to be in a trance, "That Zhang Bingkuan has the unpredictable ability of ghosts and gods, and asked Wang Weining to go to the northwest in advance, estimating that His Majesty is on guard against the affairs of the northwest, and he is a mourner." Also, it is not the Zhou family that can cure the Zhang brothers in this world, it is Zhang Bingkuan. ”

Empress Dowager Zhou sighed with emotion, suddenly thought of something, and asked, "Is Zhang Bingkuan also here for this court meeting?" ”

Jiang Lu said: "The Empress Dowager, now that the test is underway, Zhang Gongsheng should be in the Tribute Academy." ”

"Hehe, I'm still a tribute student, and I'm going to take the exam...... Isn't the major affairs of the family and the country more important than the fame of the moment? It seems that the emperor has other expectations for him, and wants him to be listed in the court. Okay. Let's go and see how the emperor talks to the empress, and report the news in time. ”

"Yes."

……

……

Inside the Kunning Palace.

Before going to the Wu Dynasty, Zhu Youzhu came over to explain to his wife the "urgency" and "necessity" of his measures against Zhang Yanling.

“…… It's not that I want to deliberately make things difficult for Trillium, the queen, you don't know, now the Northwest War is as Bingkuan said, the Tatars poured out of the nest, but they just happened to hit the partial pass where Wang Shichang was stationed. What's more, it was Shaanxi and Ningxia that launched ground movements, and everything was as he expected, how could he deliberately find trouble with Trillium in this kind of matter? ”

When Zhu Youzhu said this, he didn't know how justified he was.

In the past, whenever he treated the Zhang brothers a little badly, Zhu Youzhu felt that he had done something wrong.

But now he can straighten his waist and punish Zhang Yanling with his wife, because of ...... He is not manifesting the Dharma, but the Heavenly Principles.

I can put aside the laws of the court, but I can't care less about God's will, right?

"Your Majesty, this ...... Can it be true? ”

Empress Zhang used to protect her two younger brothers in every possible way, and no matter how unreasonable she was, she dared to mention it directly to her husband, and would force her husband to agree.

But this time......

She herself was a bit cowardly.

Even when he spoke, he seemed unconfident.

Zhu Youzhu said: "Queen, don't worry, if nothing happens when the deadline comes, I will let Trillium go back." If he doesn't make trouble in Beizhen Fusi, I won't embarrass him......"

Empress Zhang almost cried, and said with a sad face: "This child has never suffered much since he was a child. I'm afraid he won't be able to stand it. ”

As an older sister, it seems that it is a little difficult to support my younger brother now.

Still the same old question.

The opponent is not human, he is God!

How to fight?

Zhu Youzhu stretched out his arm and grabbed his wife over, and said, "Actually, I have always wanted him to learn a lesson, even if it is the prince, I have no mercy when I should be punished, but Heling and Trillium ...... Alas! If it goes on like this, something will happen sooner or later. ”

"Your Majesty, if the days pass, there is no earth moving, and there is no other sign from heaven, is it a crime of bewitching the public by curing Zhang Zhou?" Empress Zhang looked at her husband with a blank eye, almost in a pleading tone.

"Huh?"

Zhu Youzhu was still holding his wife, but he even let go of his hand when he heard the words.

Queen Zhang didn't expect that her husband would have such a big reaction when she proposed to Zhang Zhou to punish the crime.

"Queen, don't you understand? It is my repeated connivance with Trillium that will cause a warning from the heavens, if I do something and the warning does not come, can I blame Bingkuan? ”

"Bingkuan never said anything bad about Trillium before he was in front of me, he just blessed God with the will of heaven and happened to let Trillium run into ......"

"Then Your Majesty would rather trust Zhang Zhou than Trillium?"

Empress Zhang suddenly became entangled again.

Zhu Youzhu frowned and said, "Empress, are you still obsessed?" This is a major event involving Guozuo Sheji, not child's play! Forget it, I still have to discuss with the minister about sending troops to the northwest, so let's think about it first! ”

When the emperor found that his wife was too small and childish, she only cared about the interests of her own family, and even the will of heaven could be thrown aside.

Deng Shi also lost his temper, put his wife aside, and hurriedly took Dai Yi and others to Fengtian Hall to participate in the court meeting.

"Your Majesty......"

Empress Zhang wanted to cry without tears at this time.

"Your Majesty usually obeys me, but since that Zhang Zhou appeared, everything has changed, but I can't do anything yet...... Everything is providential and heavenly, how can this be reasonable? ”

Empress Zhang now hates Zhang Zhou to death in her heart.

But looking back, it seems that Zhang Zhou can't be blamed for this, because Zhang Zhou is just a priest who conveys the will of heaven.

Could it be that if Zhang Zhou is pressed, the will of heaven will change?

……

……

Fengtian Temple Wu Dynasty.

After the simple courtesy of the monarch and the minister, Zhu Youzhu did not talk nonsense, and even let Dai Yi make the current situation in the northwest public.

“…… Although the Tatars have been harassing in various parts of the Nine Frontiers in the past few days, and there have even been large-scale conscriptions of troops from the Duoyan tribe in Liaodong and other places, it was not until yesterday afternoon that Fang Youye did not collect dozens of miles north of the Yatou Pass, and found that there were Tatar troops with more than 10,000 cavalry, and then the Tu Bunkers in various places in the Yatou Pass were under martial law......"

“…… The news just obtained that the Tatars had attacked and harassed the Biaotou Pass before nightfall yesterday, and used artillery and other means to knock on the pass, and more than ten earthen forts along the north and south of the Biaotou Pass were destroyed......

Dai Yi's news made the ministers present very shocked after hearing it.

Even the re-entry of the Tatars into the Loop was not as menacing as it is today.

Xu Guan, the secretary of the Ministry of Industry, asked: "It's only mid-February, is it necessary for Tatars to enter the pass?" This seems unconscionable. ”

The Tatars have always maintained an offensive position, and the Ming have remained on the defensive.

There's nothing wrong with that.

But the fact that the Tatars poured out of their nests and made the move of attacking the Eccentric Pass was a bit unusual in the eyes of many ministers.

Ma Wensheng came out and said, "This is the trick that Di Yi used in the orthodox years. ”

Xu Guan looked over, he didn't understand what was going on.

Ma Wensheng explained: "Di Yi's move is not to forcibly capture the city pass, but to deter, if I have insufficient soldiers and horses in the place of the head pass, I will take the opportunity to withdraw troops elsewhere, while Di Yi can take the city pass without any effort, and destroy the city pass, and then use this as a basis to attack and harass the important towns in my pass." There will be no danger to ......."

As the secretary of the Ministry of War, Ma Wensheng is knowledgeable.

The Tatar cavalry wants to attack the partial pass, there is no need to do a death battle, as long as the posture of a strong attack, the army of the Ming Dynasty will run away nine times out of ten, and the Tatars will come in and loot, after withdrawing, the army of the Ming Dynasty will occupy the destroyed city pass and rebuild the city pass.

After hearing this, the ministers present did not feel a good feeling in their hearts.

Zhu Youji's face was also not good, and he said loudly: "That was before, or the northwest was defenseless, or there were doubts. But when the first year is approaching, the northwest has been prepared, how can this still be the case? ”

When the ministers present heard this, they all tasted it.

Many people are also puzzled, think about it, the emperor actually had insight into the movements of the Tatars in advance and sent people to the northwest in advance?

It was rumored that Wang Yue had gone to the northwest...... Isn't that ...... Lao Wang, is he useful?

But it seems that Lao Wang went to the wrong place, right?

Zhang Sheng, the left attendant of the Ministry of Rites, said: "Your Majesty, now we should quickly transfer the soldiers and horses of the two towns of Datong and Xuanfu to gallop to the side of the head pass, and transfer the left waiter of the Ministry of Troops Wang Yue to the side head pass." ”

This proposal is simply in line with the expectations of the ministers present.

Zhu Youzhu said: "Don't bother, Wang Yueren is in the Bitou Pass, and he has been preparing for more than a month, and the report on the movements of the Tatars is played by him personally!" ”

"Huh?!"

Most of the ministers present only knew that Wang Yue was in the northwest, and they did not know that Wang Yue was in the Partial Pass.

In order to conceal the news that Wang Yue was in the Bitou Pass, the emperor even did not hesitate to conceal it from the ministers during the previous court meeting.

And now......

It is equivalent to saying that all the ministers have been solved the same mystery as the Tatars......

Wang Yue, the only famous general in the Ming Dynasty who can get on the stage, actually waited for the Tatars to send him to the door?

Zhou Jing, the head of the household, hurriedly came out and said: "Your Majesty, the northwest should be cautious in using soldiers. ”

"The minister seconded the proposal."

Wang Zongyi, the right attendant of the military department, hurriedly walked out and raised the wat board.

Zhu Youzhu was still feeling angry, and by listening to Zhang Zhou, he arranged Wang Yue to the right place, who knew that before he could be happy for a while, Zhou Jing and Wang Zongyi teamed up to pour a basin of cold water on him.

Zhu Youzhu frowned and said, "What is the prudence in using soldiers? You mean, even if Wang Qing's family is in the middle of the pass, they won't let him fight, right? ”

After all, the emperor is familiar with the urine nature of this group of people.

In the eyes of civil officials, it is best not to have anything happen in the northwest, even if Wang Yue is in the partial pass, it is best to rely on Wang Yue's prestige to scare the enemy away, so that everyone is happy, and I don't want Wang Yue to lead troops to fight with the Tatars with real swords and guns.

The ministers present did not answer the emperor's question directly.

Even if it is Zhou Jing and Wang Zongyi, although they are what the emperor said, this kind of thing is ...... It's hard to persuade and say.

It is always a matter of losing face to say that our Ming border army should have a battle but not take it, and if there are thieves and bandits who violate the border and do not fight......

For the rest, it's up to your Majesty to slowly experience it yourself!

Zhu Youzhu said: "Don't all of you think that I should issue an order to Wang Yue, so that he can not hold out at the Partial Pass, and wait for the Tatars to withdraw before making arrangements?" ”

Still no one answered.

Zhu Youzhu didn't wait for others to take the initiative to say anything this time, but looked at Ma Wensheng and said, "Ma Shangshu, what is your opinion?" ”

At this time, it is better to ask the person who knows the most about soldiers in the current court, and it can even be said that he is on a par with Wang Yue.

Of course, Ma Wensheng understood that the emperor wanted him to be on the side of the active war.

However, Ma Wensheng initially agreed to let Wang Yue go to the northwest, and he had made an agreement with the emperor, and Wang Yue could not be allowed to take the initiative to send troops...... Although the current dispatch of troops is only a passive engagement, it still does not meet Ma Wensheng's expectations.

"Back to Your Majesty, regardless of whether Di Yi has the intention of engaging troops or not, the number of officers and troops around the Bitou Pass alone, as well as the number of soldiers and horses that can be mobilized and reinforced, will take time and time to deploy reasonably, and it is too early to talk about engaging in battles at this time."

What Ma Wensheng means, we have to wait and see.

Xie Qian stood on the spot and said with a smile: "With Wang Weining's meritorious service, I'm afraid I can't afford to wait, right?" ”

Although Xie Qian said this in a mocking tone.

But he almost said a "truth" that is most in line with the actual situation.

If someone else is guarding the Bitou Pass, or if Wang Yue is replaced ten years ago, this battle can be reasonably deployed, and the decrees of the imperial court can be implemented......

But now Wang Yue's heart to send troops is incomparable.

Xie Qian said.

You're fooling a bird here? It's like what you said, Wang Weining can listen to it!

Wang Weining finally seized the opportunity, it is estimated that he can fight for his life, and tell you the current situation politely, do you really hope to be able to pull his wild horse off the leash?

(End of chapter)