Since ancient times, those who have been awarded the title of Duke of Laiguo are famous Du Ruhui and Kou Zhun, both of whom are typical of being able to write and martial arts.

Dai Yi and others understood that this reflected the emperor's expectations for Zhang Zhou, that is, to make Zhang Zhou a figure who could become a general and a figure who could help the Ming Dynasty.

When Zhu Youzhu went to see the Empress Dowager Zhou and his wife and wanted to inform his relatives about the matter, Dai Yi and others did not accompany him.

The four celebrant eunuchs were followed by several small eunuchs in the study room of the celebrant eunuch, and the four of them walked in a hurry.

"Your Majesty wants to take Mr. Zhang as the prince of the country, I'm afraid it's not too easy, right?"

Wei Bin followed behind and asked.

Before the affairs of Liaodong, Wei Bin had some opinions about Zhang Zhou, but with the end of the battle of Liaodong, his descendant, Ren Liang, the eunuch of Liaodong Town, was not punished, and even Zhang Yudu, the imperial historian, was only punished for serving, and he was only more concerned about how much impact Zhang Zhou's rise would have on his interests.

After all, Wei Bin had more dealings with the town guards and eunuchs in various places.

Dai Yi said: "With the current merits, what about giving a prince?" ”

Xiao Jing also questioned on the side: "It's just that Mr. Zhang didn't go into battle in person, so I'm afraid that there will be gossip on Wenchen's side." ”

Dai Yi stopped suddenly, and in an instant, the surrounding eunuchs were stunned and stopped, not understanding what kind of medicine was sold in Dai Yi's gourd.

"You guys, just eat salty radishes and worry about it, how does Your Majesty want to reward Mr. Zhang, Your Majesty has its own arrangements, this time even the cabinet ministers, the Ministry of War, and the Ministry of Rites have not summoned them, and they don't explain the problem? Your Majesty may have felt that tomorrow the court will speak out about this matter, even if there is opposition to it, it will not form a climate. Wait! ”

Dai Yi is now more angry that he has been suspected and challenged.

With his old age, it seems that he is not very favored on the emperor's side.

……

……

Inside the Kunning Palace.

Zhu Youzhu was in front of his son, or in the face of his son's eyes full of urgency, explaining to his wife that Zhang Zhou had fought a hearty victory for Daming.

Empress Zhang and Zhu Houzhao didn't seem to care whether Zhang Zhou was personally involved in the war, and in their eyes, Wang Shouren and Ma Yi, who actually led the troops, were transparent and meaningless.

Of course, the mother and son have different priorities.

Empress Zhang asked, "Then Your Majesty, what about Heling?" Did he go too? ”

"I didn't go to Weininghai, but I went to Maoerzhuang with Bingkuan, and welcomed the soldiers who attacked Weininghai back to the pass, and they are still after retreating south, and now they don't even dare to lead troops closer, I believe that they have now withdrawn to the pass, but the news has not yet been transmitted back to Beijing." Zhu Youzhu smiled and said, "As the deputy commander-in-chief, Heling can also be regarded as a meritorious minister, and I will reward him well." ”

"That's good."

When Empress Zhang heard this, she also had a smile on her face.

She doesn't care whether the northwest wins the battle or not, as a "women's family", she is more concerned about what the Zhang family can gain in this matter.

Zhu Houzhao asked eagerly: "Then why didn't Bingkuan lead his troops to fight with the fire, and retreat to the pass?" He didn't want to sift out the fire all at once? ”

Zhu Youzhu glanced at his son when he heard this, and said, "Bingkuan is also what you should be called?" ”

"Father, why do you still care about that title or something at this time, you know that it is Mr. Zhang." Zhu Houzhao looked annoyed.

I don't answer the key question, but I actually care about what I call Zhang Zhou?

Don't you usually call him "Bingkuan"?

Zhu Youzhu said: "The way to use the army, not in the battlefield at a time and in a place of gains and losses, but in the overall consideration, now the grassland situation is turbulent, it is the time of internal division and cannibalism, the Ming Dynasty's intention to fight this war has been achieved, there is no need to fight again, and then clean up the mess after the grassland situation is clear." ”

"Hey, if you don't go into battle yourself, let others go, don't work and say wait to clean up the mess, I'm still waiting for him to step on the grassland every day."

Zhu Houzhao muttered quietly, but he was a little dissatisfied.

"What did you say?" Zhu Youzhi saw that his son now likes to be like a woman, and he pulled the beads of the small abacus in his heart on the bright side, and he couldn't help but be angry.

"It's okay, Erchen is saying that Mr. Zhang is very powerful, and he will rely on him to level the grassland in the future." Zhu Houzhao pursed his lips, somewhat dissatisfied.

It's such a fun thing to go to the grassland to fight, and you don't take me there?

Didn't even write me a letter when I went? Let me guard the "Wangfu Cliff"?

Zhu Youzhu said: "I also plan to give Bingkuan the title of Duke of Laiguo, and I will mention it tomorrow, but it may also have to wait for the results of the battle to come out." I still have to go and tell the imperial grandmother about this news, so I won't eat here, and I will drive! ”

"Your Majesty......"

"Queen, you rest more, I have been busy with state affairs recently, and after a few days of leisure, I will accompany you more."

Zhu Youzhu comforted his wife, but as if it was an excuse to be busy with work, but he always had nothing to go out to ghost her husband, so she left her wife and children and left first on the pretext of seeing her grandmother.

Empress Zhang was naturally a little dissatisfied.

Because she has been spending less and less time with the emperor recently, Zhu Youzhi often even "doesn't go home at night", she doesn't even know where her husband usually is, and she can't even investigate.

She seems to be the lord of the six palaces, but she is still a little worse than Concubine Wan and others, because she has no one in Dongchang and Jinyiwei, and the so-called queen can only maintain her majesty over the palace people, and she used to rely on the Zhang brothers for what she wanted to do, but now her two brothers are in the northwest, one in Yansui and the other in Datong.

It was now difficult for her to find someone to find out her husband's whereabouts.

……

……

Outside the eccentric off.

Zhu Feng personally led his troops out of the fortress, and according to the agreement, he went to Tumaochuan, that is, a tributary of the Yellow River, and did not cross the river, but after finding that he had not encountered the enemy, he gradually withdrew his troops to Chengguan outside the town.

After he returned to Shuiquan Camp Fort, he saw Wang Qiong, who had already brought his troops over, and learned from Wang Qiong the results of the two battles of Weininghai and Tushan.

"Brother Zhang...... Sure enough, it has the ability to shoulder the heavy burden of the defense of the northwest. ”

Zhu Feng did not feel disappointed, but felt very relieved.

With Zhang Zhou, I can finally think about how to live a happy life after returning to the capital or Nanjing.

Wang Qiong asked: "Don't you feel sorry that Zhang Zhengtai didn't use you in this battle?" With such a meritorious achievement, I believe you can also achieve such results. ”

"No, it won't." Zhu Feng said, "I don't have the strategy of the king, nor the courage of the horse commander, if I lead the troops to attack Weininghai, after a small victory, I want to go back to the Daming Pass, and I will definitely not escort so many prisoners and livestock, in terms of talent, I am not as good as them." ”

Wang Qiong smiled bitterly and shook her head.

I've seen someone who is self-indulgent, and I've never seen someone so self-contemptuous.

You have obtained the title of Marquis of Anbian by virtue of military merits, and you actually think that you are not capable of fighting a surprise attack that seems logical?

In this battle, it is obviously more difficult to plan than to use troops, and it is necessary to have Zhang Zhou's courage and the stability of the army's spirit brought by Zhang Zhou's prayer for rain in Xuanfu, so that he is qualified to talk about a surprise attack, but the surprise attack does not seem to be very difficult......

It's like the coach is the soul of a team.

If you don't play, you can play a game.

But you, Zhu Zhijie, depreciate yourself and think that you are incapable...... Wang Qiong thought to herself, no wonder Zhang Bingkuan didn't need you to lead the troops to attack Weininghai, it really made sense.

But why not let me go?

Compared with Zhu Feng's open-mindedness, Wang Qiong can't be pampered and not surprised, just as Zhang Zhou used his reasons, he Wang Qiong is capable and good at greeting, but he also has the disadvantage that this kind of person should have, that is...... Narrow-mindedness.

Wang Yue is also very capable, but he also has a lot of means in terms of running on his colleagues.

Could it be that he, Wang Qiong, can compare himself to a saint and be indifferent to such a monstrous contribution as the second surprise attack on Wei Ninghai?

"Zhang Zhitai uses Wang Bo'an, I don't understand this." Wang Qiong commented on the matter in front of Zhu Feng, "With a person who has never set foot on the battlefield, a son is all wrong, is he gambling, or does he really know people?" ”

Zhu Feng looked indifferent and said, "Isn't Bo'an also in the Yanwu Hall?" I guess I think it's a good idea to use people. ”

Zhu Feng didn't think so about Zhang Zhou's use of Wang Shouren.

"Na Zhijie, how much do you know about Bo'an's ability? Do you think he can accomplish great things? Wang Qiong asked rhetorically.

"This ......"

How can Zhu Feng answer this kind of question?

He really wanted to say that I was just messing around in Yanwutang, and I had very little contact with those people, let alone paying attention to who had the ability and who was a bad seed.

Aren't you Wang Qiong also from Yanwutang? Don't you know anything about Wang Bo'an?

In history, Wang Qiong admired Wang Shouren, but that was based on the premise that his identity and status were completely unequal, as a teacher and senior, Wang Qiong was willing to recommend Wang Shouren.

But in history, he Wang Qiong would still fight with Peng Yue for military power in the northwest, and fight to the end, attacking each other and even not hesitating to declare personal vendettas......

In front of him, Wang Shouren was not recommended by him Wang Qiong, and after this battle, Wang Shouren has obviously become a figure who can be almost equal to him Wang Qiong, how can Wang Qiong still treat Wang Shouren with the mentality of promoting juniors?

"Wang Zhongcheng, then do we want to send troops to assist Datong Town? Next, the fire screen should be Koubian Datong, right? "Zhu Feng is still warm-hearted.

The surprise attack on Weininghai is too dangerous, I won't do it.

But if I transfer troops to Datong Town to assist Brother Zhang in garrisoning Datong, I don't dare to do anything.

Wang Qiong said: "No need, the situation in the partial pass is more dangerous than that in Datong Town. With a production table, Datong Town can ensure peace of mind, and as I want to come...... The fire sieve has lost the qualification to compete for dominance on the grassland, if he still wants to protect the strength of the whole clan, the only way to return to the Ming Dynasty is to judge the situation and return to the Ming Dynasty. ”

"No...... No way? ”

Zhu Feng doesn't understand politics very well.

In his opinion, half a year ago, the fire screen was still a feared god, his cavalry came and went without a trace on the front line of Xuanda, and the governors, general soldiers, and soldiers of various towns were afraid of him, and as a result, he was going to take refuge in Daming after half a year?

Could it be that the group of guys in the grassland, who claim to be the sons of eagles, are so spineless? That's not even as good as me.

Wang Qiong shook his head and sighed: "How many people can there be in the Menggol Jin Department of the fire sieve? was killed and captured 20,000 people at one time, not counting the losses of the past six months, and he still wanted to resist stubbornly, that is, he wanted to be destroyed on the grassland. Even if Da Ming can let his people go, the little prince of Tatar will not let him go. ”

"Zhang Zhengtai's move is undoubtedly to help the little Tatar prince solve the big trouble of the Mongolian right-wing, and it may not be a good thing in the long run."

Zhu Feng was surprised: "Isn't this a good thing? ”

Wang Qiong sighed: "Zhijie, don't always think about perfunctory, you have the ability, you also have a backer and background, and you have won the trust of Your Majesty and Zhang Zhitai. Recently, it is necessary to strengthen the patrol and defense of the fortresses in the remote passes, and you should be careful. ”

"Oh."

In Wang Qiong's eyes, Zhu Fengzhen is like a dou who can't be helped.

Wang Qiong sometimes hates him, but this character is what Wang Qiong appreciates.

Not fighting means that others will not treat you as an enemy, and if you just pretend not to fight, others will be doubly guarded...... But if you really don't want to fight, then you have the biggest advantage, as a noble who guards the northwest, you Zhu Zhijie is almost invincible.

……

……

Courts.

In the Fengtian Palace, the expressions of the Wenchen generals present were relatively complicated, because before they came, they had all heard about the advance of the war in the northwest.

However, the news of Zhang Zhou's withdrawal to the Guannai has not yet come, so there is no way to know the exact outcome of this battle.

“…… With more than 16,000 captives and tens of thousands of cattle and sheep, it is not easy to travel ten miles and eight miles a day, and it is really difficult to say whether they can enter the customs. ”

Some people are also singing about it.

This kind of argument is more in line with the expectations of civil officials.

Only the civil officials pay more attention to seniority, Zhang Zhou belongs to the upstart, if Zhang Zhou makes such a big incident, and retreats from the grassland, it will have the greatest impact on the interests of civil officials.

As for Wu Xun's side...... Only Zhang Mao's face was tense that day, because it seemed that Zhang Zhou's rise had the greatest impact on him, and as for the other martial arts, they were all very happy to see the military rise of the Ming Dynasty, which would also mean that they would not be able to survive.

As for who is the commander of the Jingying, is it so different to us ordinary nobles?

Anyway, it's not Zhang Zhou, it's also Zhang Mao, an old man, and it's likely to be passed down from generation to generation.

If there is Zhang Zhou stirring up the situation, it will have an impact on the pattern of the Governor's Mansion, and maybe we will have a chance to take the position.

Zhu Youzhu came late that day.

However, the emperor did not summon any ministers in advance, and no one asked for leave or rest that day, because they also knew that today was a special day, and it was very likely that there would be a reward for meritorious service in the court, even if they didn't want to be a witness, they didn't want to show their faces at this kind of court meeting.

Whoever doesn't come means not giving face to the emperor.

"Elder Liu Ge, what should I say about the matter of merit today?"

Liu Jian was still whispering something to Li Dongyang, but it was Xu Qiong who came to him.

Only a relatively neutral figure like Xu Qiong would ask such a sensitive topic at this time.

When it comes to rewarding meritorious deeds, there are three people involved, all of whom have more or less "problems".

Needless to say, Zhang Zhouzi is also a new scholar, such a great merit seems that it must be given, but what to give and how to give it are all exquisite, no matter how great Wang Shouren's merit is, does he want to become a group with Zhang Zhou, which is also not tolerated by the mainstream ministers of the DPRK and China?

As for Ma Yi...... This is the corrupt official impeached by the orthodox civil official Ma Zhongxi, and he just made meritorious service for his crimes, and he also achieved such great merit that he personally beheaded several times, not to mention the credit of the overall command.

As the former chief military officer of Xuanfu, it seems that it is easier to be promoted directly to earl than Wang Shouren.

ran out of these three problems at once, no wonder Xu Qiong came over to ask first.

Otherwise, the Ministry of Rites really doesn't know how to evaluate this matter.

Xie Qian said with a smile: "The results of the battle have not yet come out, and you are not in a hurry to discuss the merits, right?" How can there be a war that is not over, and then think about rewarding meritorious deeds? Aren't you afraid of happiness and sorrow? ”

Yuan Shouzhi, the envoy of the general government, interjected: "I heard that the fire screen has withdrawn with tens of thousands of soldiers and horses, and wants to fight to the death with the surname Zhang, and the surname Zhang has so many soldiers and horses on hand, does he dare to fight?" ”

"Oh, Yuan Yintai, you must calm your anger." Xie Qian smiled and said, "Even if you want to use the agitation method, it's not appropriate to say it here." Wang Bo'an has the courage to fight, but he Zhang Bingkuan may not be able to, otherwise why didn't he Zhang Bingkuan personally lead troops to attack Weininghai? He is different from Wang Shichang. ”

Xie Qian followed the idea originally put forward by Li Dongyang yesterday and pressed Zhang Zhou with Wang Shouren's merits.

Once the credit is shared by different people, it can highlight one of them to offset the others, which is exactly what it means.

It's a good thing, you Zhang Zhou didn't personally lead the troops, so you are always embarrassed to take the responsibility of the leading generals you recommended, right?

Zhang Mao walked over, his eyes were deep, and he said with a deep smile: "Being able to fight a decisive battle thousands of miles away is also a model of famous generals through the ages. ”

It seemed that Zhang Mao was helping Zhang Zhou speak, but he also reminded the people present that it was actually the credit of yellow powder.

Even if Zhang Zhou is the inventor, he can't be credited with a credit every time he wins with yellow powder, right?

The Ming Dynasty won before, and he didn't necessarily give credit to those who built weapons, or those who had invented gunpowder and firearms, let alone give them official promotions, right?

Xie Qian said: "We can't deny that Zhang Bingkuan is the god of using soldiers, but he is still too afraid of things, and then he leads troops westward, which also goes against the original intention of using artillery around Xuanfu before, this is an unauthorized use of troops, right?" ”

"Yes, yes." Someone next to him chimed in.

finally grabbed Zhang Zhou's pigtails.

Li Dongyang said: "Yu Qiao, don't say it. ”

Xie Qian naturally said this because he was angry, and his so-called anger was not on the position of the Ming Dynasty, but purely on the position of civil officials or himself.

But he still didn't comment more.

Ma Wensheng said: "How to talk about meritorious deeds and rewards, we must judge from reality, there should be precedents to support, and if there is no precedent to citing, it also depends on Your Majesty's intentions." As for the dispatch of troops by the Xuanfu and various towns, the Ministry of War knew about it in advance, but it was not mentioned in the court meeting. ”

Ma Wensheng actually came to refute Xie Qian.

The emperor summoned your ministers in advance, and the military department also knows everything about it, why should we pour cold water on Zhang Zhou after Zhang Zhou's big victory, so that His Majesty is displeased?

Isn't it good to be realistic?

Liu Jian nodded: "That's right." When it comes to merit, we should put the actual situation first. ”

In this way, it can actually be regarded as setting the tone, not Xie Qian to represent the cabinet, but me Liu.

Don't step on Zhang Zhou because of what Xie Yuqiao said, today we just follow the emperor's wishes, and there is no way to resist the rise of Zhang Zhou, so we must learn to shrink first.

(End of chapter)