East Palace.

Zhu Houzhao sat opposite Zhang Zhou, and the teacher and student looked at each other like this, as if they were deliberately trying to match their eyes, and in the end, Zhu Houzhao's eyes were so dry that he couldn't stand it, and he rubbed his eyes after blinking.

"Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince, are you alright?" Gao Feng asked with a look of concern.

Zhu Houzhao shook his hand, ignored the concern of others, and continued to stare at Zhang Zhoudao: "Zhang, this palace is still waiting for you to go to the northwest, personally lead the troops into battle, and level the grassland in one fell swoop. ”

Zhang Zhou said with an indifferent look: "The prince has won the award." ”

"Am I awarding you? Can't hear what Hongu means? Zhu Houzhao was already like a half-grown teenager at this time, he had seen a lot, and his voice was a little hoarse.

Gao Feng said: "His Royal Highness the Prince, Mr. Zhang, let's not hurt the harmony, we have something to say." ”

It seems that Gao Feng is also afraid that Zhu Houzhao will also have a quarrel with the only gentleman who can calm the scene, and with Zhang Zhou's current status in the imperial court, there is nothing good to offend Zhang Zhou, maybe Zhang Zhou thinks that these eunuchs of the East Palace are sowing discord?

Zhang Zhou said coldly: "If I level the grassland, when the prince becomes an adult, he will be willing to face the empty grassland, and he doesn't want to do something by himself?" ”

"Damn!" Zhu Houzhao patted his thigh, "Of course, the palace will go into battle in person and subdue those disobedient cubs in the grassland in one fell swoop!" ”

Zhang Zhoudao: "Even if the prince really has the opportunity to go into battle in person, shouldn't he fight a prepared battle first?" If you don't prepare, you can win just by talking about it? Nowadays, firearms represented by artillery are certainly strong, but without enough iron, how can so many cannons be made? Can a cannon without a cannonball achieve great things? ”

"If you go to the battlefield and only put one round of artillery and then you will be dumbfired, how much difference is it from no artillery? Any war is completed by the accumulation of resources, even the Tatars enter the border pass of my Ming Dynasty, will prepare two blades, only children will feel that the war is won by the so-called art of war and trickery, everything still depends on the most basic accumulation! ”

Gao Feng on the side was anxious.

How can this still say that the prince is a "child"?

Isn't it a pot that can't be opened?

Zhu Houzhao said "oh", as if he was taught, and he asked: "That is to say, if you wait for the palace to reach adulthood and then level the grassland, can there be tens of thousands of artillery pieces that bombard the grassland indiscriminately, and you can blow up hundreds of thousands of iron horsemen at will?" ”

Zhang Zhoudao: "Why do you want so much? Thousands of guns lined up, do you know how much of an area can be covered? At that time, I am afraid that if you want to fight the Tartars, the Tartars will also walk around you, and then you will have to fight for speed, ride a horse and chase after you with a flint gun...... Whether it is a long-range battle or a close combat, it can be suppressed in strength. ”

"Oooh." Zhu Houzhao didn't have a temper at this time, "That's okay, you hurry up and prepare, when I grow up, I will be the main general, you will be the deputy general, let's go ......"

Speaking of this, Zhu Houzhao seemed to be afraid that Gao Feng and others would report their intentions to his father, so he glared at Gao Feng and said, "What else is going on with you here?" Stand down, stand down! There are still things related to military aircraft in this palace, so I have to discuss with Mr. Zhang and go out! ”

"Yes."

Gao Feng glanced at Zhang Zhou with a look of grievance.

I thought to myself, I was worried about your discord, but now I know that you surnamed Zhang can really cut the pulse of His Highness, and know that His Highness wants to personally lead troops to level the grassland, so he deliberately said so.

But the problem is, even if the prince is an adult, as long as he is the prince and has no younger brother, His Majesty will not let the prince go even if he drives the expedition in person, right?

……

……

After Gao Feng and the other eunuchs retreated.

Zhu Houzhao complained in front of Zhang Zhou.

“…… Don't you know, my father didn't talk about any reason recently, he grounded me if he had nothing to do, and he didn't let me go anywhere, I haven't been out of the palace for a long time. Zhu Houzhao propped up his head and thought about it, "When was the last time you left the palace?" I can't even remember! ”

Zhang Zhou narrowed his eyes, the more this kid looked at it, the more he looked like a resentful woman.

Zhu Houzhao said: "Since you are back, do you want to tell my father and let me go out for a walk?" I don't ask for anything else, I'm going to watch the cannon with you, and I don't run around, it's always okay, right? ”

Zhang Zhoudao: "There is no hope, now the north is not peaceful, and the Jingshi is often under martial law, Your Majesty is just you, the imperial heir, how can you easily make a risk?" ”

"That'...... That is, if I had a few younger brothers, my father would let me out? Zhu Houzhao seemed to understand Zhang Zhou's hint.

Zhang Zhou asked: "Then do you want Your Majesty to have more heirs and you have more brothers?" ”

Zhu Houzhao thought about it, nodded and said, "There's nothing bad about it." ”

"You're not afraid that they will rob you of your throne?" Zhang Zhou smiled, I haven't heard of being the crown prince, I hope to have a few younger brothers, you must know that Zhu Houzhao usually doesn't appreciate much of his father, even if the Ming Dynasty has the emperor's eldest son inheritance system there, how do you know that Zhu Youzhi will not abolish his position as prince?

Zhu Houzhao said: "Don't be afraid, anyway, I was born to my mother, the eldest son, unless I die...... If I really die, then who will inherit the prince or not? I'm buried in the grave, and who will inherit the throne? Can I fuck this? ”

"Huh."

Zhang Zhou admires Zhu Houzhao's open-mindedness and confidence.

It seems that Zhu Houzhao doesn't know how foolish he is, and he doesn't know that his father loves and hates him.

This kid's stubbornness is brought into his bones...... Zhang Zhou also thought that if Zhu Houzhao was replaced by his father and experienced what his father had experienced, would the acquired environment raise Zhu Houzhao to be a cautious and self-denying king, like his father, or would he continue to be like this?

Now that I think about it, probably this kid was killed early, and the throne will not be passed on to him.

"Okay, find a chance to help you talk about it, if you really have a chance to get out of the palace, you have to be honest and obedient, otherwise I'm making trouble for myself."

"Don't worry, you don't know my temperament yet? I am the most disciplined, and if I don't walk around after leaving the palace, I will definitely not walk around! Hey. ”

While making promises there, I was laughing unconsciously.

It seems that he himself knows that it is the privilege of a childish child to be untrustworthy, and if he really goes out of the palace, he can't give me fun, and he still wants me not to run around?

It's not that I'm naïve, it's that you're too innocent.

……

……

Zhang Zhou returned to the mountain after recuperating and became the prince's official again, which meant that the prince's ban was officially lifted.

But in fact, Zhu Houzhao has often gone to see Zhu Youji and his wife recently.

Zhu Houzhao is the birthday of the 24th day of the ninth month of the lunar calendar, as the prince's Qianqiu Festival, the imperial court will generally hold some celebrations, such as the hundred officials to give him a salute and other things, but the most lively thing recently does not involve Zhu Houzhao, but Zhu Youzhi's younger brother Zhu Youzhu on the Hengzhou Mansion where King Yong is stationed.

According to the Ming Dynasty, before the vassal king, especially the emperor's brother, became an adult, he would hold some farewell ceremonies in the Jingshi, and the hundred officials would even go to his palace in the capital to pay respects.

The vassal king will also enter the palace to salute the emperor, and this farewell is likely to be the last meeting between the brothers in their lives, and of course, there will be many vassal kings who are allowed to come to Beijing to worship halfway, and there are few opportunities.

In the eyes of the world, Zhu Youzhu is not special at all, neither Zhu Youzhu's eldest brother nor the most capable, anyway, he is a very ordinary vassal king.

In Zhang Zhou's opinion, the biggest difference between this person and other vassal kings is probably that his mother, like Xingwang Zhu Youqi, is Concubine Shao, that is, the later Empress Dowager Shao.

"Mr. Zhang, what Your Majesty means, others can go to see King Yong, you don't have to go."

When Xiao Jing sent Zhang Zhou out of the palace that day, he made a special remark.

Zhu Youzhu was probably afraid that those vassal kings would want to use Zhang Zhou's power to do something, so he was very shy about letting those younger brothers come to see Zhang Zhou.

If Zhu Youzhi had more sons, probably he wouldn't have to worry so much.

Zhang Zhou asked, "If he has to come to my house to visit, should I also turn people away?" ”

"No, it won't." Xiao Jing said with a smile, "Before King Yong became a vassal, how could he easily come out to meet the ministers of the court?" He should know the rules. And even if you turn him away, His Majesty won't say anything. Do you have anything else to say about him? If so, we can convey it for you. ”

Zhang Zhoudao: "The only point, listen to Your Majesty's words when choosing Yongwang's Mansion, otherwise...... There will be disaster. ”

"This ......"

Xiao Jing didn't quite understand what Zhang Zhou meant.

In fact, the vassal kings of the Ming Dynasty were very superstitious and stubborn in choosing mansions.

When they arrived in their domain, they seldom accepted the mansion directly from the emperor, and most of them asked to move the mansion to what they thought was good.

This...... In fact, there are traces to follow.

If their vassal king's mansion was built by the imperial court, there was an implication that the emperor wanted to suppress their fortune and let them be trapped in the vassal king's mansion, even if they didn't have ...... They will also think that there may be, so it is better to find a place where they like more to build a house...... Even moving to other cities and domains can be submitted, and even approved.

After this King Yong became a vassal, he moved his mansion to a place he liked, and then ...... Died in the Hengzhou earthquake in the second year of Zhengde.

A typical example of not tossing and not dying.

Xiao Jing asked very seriously, "Is there anything important?" ”

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "Father-in-law Xiao wants to play with His Majesty truthfully, right?" ”

"Uh......" Xiao Jing looked embarrassed.

If Zhang Zhouzhen has anything to say to King Yong, Xiao Jing, as the commander of Dongchang, is impossible to hide, which is a big taboo.

And when he asked Zhang Zhou what he had to say to King Yong, he himself was a bit deliberately trying to make trouble for Zhang Zhou.

Logically speaking, Zhang Zhou should have nothing to remind a vassal king to obey.

Zhang Zhoudao: "I guess that in the next few years, the ground in Hengzhou may not be very peaceful, and what natural and man-made disasters will happen are not yet close, and I can't predict it yet." But if King Yong has to buck the trend and avoid this matter, then he will have a very bad result...... So it should be stable in his own fiefdom, so that he can save his life. ”

"Huh?"

When Xiao Jing heard that it was "to save his life", he was very surprised.

This is not a message to King Yong, but almost a threat.

is probably saying, your King Yong listens to your brother, everything is peaceful, and his life can be kept; If you don't listen, your life will be lost!

"Got it, got it." After a short silence, Xiao Jing wiped the cold sweat from his head.

I was also thinking in my heart, sending the vassal king to the vassal like this, and doing such "advice", is what he Zhang Bingkuan can do?

……

……

September 13.

After the conclusion of the court meeting that day, Zhu Youzhu separately summoned Tu Tu, the secretary of the ministry, and the three members of the cabinet.

None of the four of them knew what they were going to say.

When he arrived at the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Youzhu handed over the two things to the four of them for inspection.

"Several Qing families, many people played before, saying that Bingkuan was still short as an official, and let him contact the Ming Dynasty with the matter of heaven, which itself is the words of the Fang Shi can not be fully accepted, and now he is in a high position and has no experience in governing the country and the country, and it is easy to cause trouble."

A few people present listened to it and felt very comfortable.

What those who are playing are what we have in mind.

Your Majesty, aren't you ruling the country by a priest?

"This is the official department's performance today, proposing a list of local employees, and taking it to the person he thought was suitable for what Bingkuan mentioned a few days ago, you can see if there are any similarities?"

Zhu Youzhu made his words clear.

Two copies are also the performance of employment, and one is the personnel transfer made by the Ministry according to the assessment of the past years and according to the rating.

The other is Zhang Zhou's "investigation" to speculate on the list of possible personnel in the ministry.

After the four of them read it, they were all surprised, although the order and other things were different, in individual positions, the imperial court may not have mentioned it, or Zhang Zhou, who was mentioned by the ministry, did not mention it...... However, the general list is basically quite the same, and even in the arrangement of some important posts such as the political envoy department and the procuratorial envoy department, it is not wrong.

Li Dongyang frowned and said, "Your Majesty, this is really ...... What Zhang Zhou proposed a few days ago? ”

Zhu Youzhu said: "You can also think that it is his prophecy, or speculation about people's hearts, but I don't think so, I think he is very proficient in the affairs of the court, even if it is the employment of officials, he should have his own opinions." ”

Xie Qian glared at Tu Tu with a puzzled gaze.

Probably saying, wouldn't it be your officials who leaked the employment list to Zhang Zhou in advance, and then ordered Zhang Zhou to play to the king in advance, so that His Majesty could show his wisdom in knowing people, right?

Tu Tu handed the two things back to Xiao Jing with trembling hands, and asked, "Your Majesty, the old minister thinks that this is ...... Nonsense also. ”

Zhu Youji's face was relaxed, and he said with a smile: "You don't want to say that Bingkuan has the leaked list within your ministry, so you predict it like this, right?" Or are you suspicious of someone in the ministry? ”

didn't say it explicitly, but probably almost said Lin Han's name.

Lin Han is the left waiter of the ministry, and many assessments and other things are still done by him, and Lin Han is now promoted because of Zhang Zhou's relationship, seeing that he has the opportunity to be promoted to Shangshu, Tu Tu will be "angry and cold", thinking that it may be that the people around him have betrayed the ministry.

Tu Yun didn't say anything, but looking at his expression, he just thought so.

"A few secretaries, please don't doubt Bingkuan's intentions, and don't doubt the righteousness of the ministers of the DPRK and China, don't say that Bingkuan doesn't need to engage in those shady deeds for such a list, even if he really wants to show himself, what will be the result? Is there any of these people who are his? Or is he trying to get you to install people close to him to the six departments, the five temples, and the places? ”

Zhu Youzhu was laughing.

Seeing that these ministers were anxious for Zhang Zhou's prediction, he felt very embarrassed.

In the past, there was really no way to confront Wenchen, whether it was from knowledge or public opinion, it was difficult for the emperor to directly confront the minister, and Zhu Youzhu was not that kind of "social cow", he was so timid and afraid of the character, even a man who couldn't accept a concubine, how much chemistry could he expect him to have with the minister?

But now, with Zhang Zhou's support, even his closed personality has been greatly improved, and in one leap from an autistic king who gets satisfaction from being touted by others, to a practical gentleman with courage, insight and strategy.

Even Zhu Youzhu is very happy with the improvement of his personality.

With Bingkuan, I am so confident.

"Okay, I'm just showing you, Bingkuan played this very early, about half a month ago, and I didn't want to show it to anyone." Zhu Youzhu said, "I will not transfer him to the ministry, just teaching the prince and the listening office is enough for him to be busy." ”

"Hmm. Although there is no government office in the Listening Office in the future, I plan to give them a duty room, which is next to the cabinet duty room, and take care of each other more in the future. ”

Liu Jian couldn't help but say: "Your Majesty, does the so-called Shangting Office need to share the affairs of the cabinet?" ”

Zhu Youzhu said: "What I mean is that they do not belong to each other, and there is no intersection in errands, each does its own thing, some involve the border war report, and the one that involves the Senator, one on one side, each of them is white, and these do not need to be voted with Zhu for approval." For matters other than war, I will not bother with the upper hearing. ”

"I won't let Bingkuan enter the cabinet, and I won't even let him go to the Hearing Office, and the rotation is better for the ministers of the DPRK and the Central People's Republic of China, and he is more likely to attend the meeting when the people are in the Hearing Office."

Liu Jian heard it.

The emperor not only planned to let Zhang Zhou enter the "Upper Listening Office", but also did not use Zhang Zhou to take turns on duty, which roughly means that this Upper Listening Office still has Zhang Zhou as the chief, which is equivalent to "the chief minister of the Upper Listening Office", because from the perspective of consultants, the emperor obviously adopts Zhang Zhou's opinions more than other people.

It can even be said that the rest of the people are under the guise of Zhang Zhou.

Because the emperor wants to consult outsiders, he only needs Zhang Zhou's opinion alone, and it seems to be enough.

Liu Jian no longer directly objected, he said: "That should form a customization, there should be a model of rotation, and the time limit for everyone in the listening room should also be limited." ”

Zhu Youzhu smiled and shook his head, "It's not appropriate." If I want to ask for opinions, if I have to set a time limit, doesn't that mean that I want to ask other people's opinions and consider whether there is any obsolescence? I just agreed, and I didn't choose the members of the Upper Hearing Office from anyone other than Jinshi, which was a final concession. ”

"A few secretaries, isn't it that I have to listen to Bingkuan, and the purpose of setting up the listening office is not to give the ministers of the DPRK and China a chance to prove themselves? If anyone is more capable than Bingkuan and replaces him, I will be glad to replace him. ”

The implication is that Bingkuan is irreplaceable for me, and you can't replace him, so what a fart?

(End of chapter)