Fengtian Temple, court.

Before Wenchen and Wuxun arrived, they vaguely heard some rumors, and learned that the siege of Ningxia seemed to be solved, and the root cause of everything was the sudden withdrawal of troops from the Tatars.

If Yang Yiqing's assumptions about the current situation are similar, the minister does not think that Wang Shouren's 6,000 soldiers and horses have done anything great on the grassland, but it is likely that the Tatars have finished robbing and it is time to stop and return to the mountains.

Other words.

Wang Shouren and his 6,000 soldiers and horses were in a situation where the situation was not optimistic.

The court meeting begins.

Zhu Youzhu came up and asked Li Rong to come forward, read out several reports on various places in the northwest, mentioned the news of the withdrawal of the Tatars, and also read out the news about the northward migration of Duoyan Sanwei in Jizhou Town in the east.

I almost told the minister that I thought it was Wang Shouren's bravery and good fighting that forced the Tatars to retreat, and even the remnants of Duoyan Sanwei did not dare to approach the border of the Ming Dynasty.

Because Li Rong is old and has deep qualifications, he speaks very slowly, but the words are sonorous and powerful, and the content that Zhu Youzhu wants to express is clearly expressed in a slightly undulating tone...... In general, if the emperor wants to highlight and "knock on the blackboard", he can do it in a high voice, and those unimportant recitals can be brushed aside.

The old guy just has qualifications, and when Li Rong finishes speaking, even if the emperor doesn't say anything, all the ministers know what the emperor means.

Finally, Li Rong concluded: "This morning, Your Majesty has issued an order to send available soldiers to Xuanfu, Datong, Yansui, Ningxia and Gansu, accompanied by heavenly gunpowder and distant artillery, to attack the grassland, and shake the power of the country and dynasty with the momentum of shaking the grassland. ”

After Li Rong finished speaking, he turned around and saluted Zhu Youzhi respectfully before retreating.

This is different from Xiao Jing and others coming out to say things, they all respectfully retreated after speaking, and Li Rong seems to be more concerned about expressing his courtesy and humility to the emperor, although it seems that this performance is a bit deliberate, and Zhu Youzhu does not seem to be the kind of person who is particularly obsessed with etiquette, and it will show Li Rong's redundancy in the past.

But now when the relationship between the emperor and his courtiers is a little stiff, his move shows his intimacy with the emperor, and shows the estrangement with Xiao Jing and others.

"Ladies and gentlemen, do you have any opinions?"

Zhu Youzhu waited for a while, but found that no minister came out to object, but he was not used to it, so he took the initiative to ask.

Because in Zhu Youji's view, in the past, whenever I had any intention of sending troops and generals, you would definitely jump out to oppose it, either under the guise of working the people and hurting money, or using "there are no difficulties to create difficulties, in short, you can't let Your Majesty do anything wrong" as a breakthrough, and you can always find a reason to refute the Northwest to take the initiative to use troops to attack.

Surprisingly.

After the emperor asked, the minister still did not come out to object.

It's not that they don't want to object, but with the opinion of the mainstream civil ministers and military ministers in the DPRK and China, it is okay for the northwest to remain on the defensive, and to take the initiative to attack is to make trouble for themselves.

The reason why they did not come out to oppose it this time was because they felt ...... Opposition doesn't make much sense.

Your Majesty, haven't you decided?

Your decision is based on the fact that two or three days after the withdrawal of the Tatar troops, it will be summed up everywhere, and it will take another four or five days to send it to the capital division, and your will will will be transmitted to all parts of the northwest in another four or five days, and it may not be delivered in four or five days...... Then spend a few more days preparing the soldiers and horses everywhere, and then kill them......

Ten days.

Conservative estimates already are.

I asked Your Majesty, ten days after the Tatar withdrawal of troops, who can be shaken by sending troops to the steppe again? Who can be pursued?

This so-called dispatch of troops also seems to have become a snake in the picture.

Zhu Youzhu said: "It seems that you have no objections, then my will will not change, before this I know, only Wang Qiong of the Bitou Pass, has been in accordance with my will, sent troops in advance to the land of Donghetao, in addition to the Menggol Jin tribe surrendered to the tribal leader Huo Sie, Shangjiao asked for instructions to fight the little prince of Tatar with soldiers and horses. ”

The minister was a little confused when he heard this.

What?

Wang Qiong sent troops, we can understand, the fire sieve is still looking for a sense of existence at this time? He didn't watch the fire from the other side of the river, but he actually took the initiative to play, saying that he wanted to stand with Daming?

What is the intention of the fire sieve?

Zhou Jing, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, came out and said, "Your Majesty, the words of the leader of Di Yi are not credible. ”

Zhu Youzhu said: "I naturally know that the fire screen is not credible, but since he has already played, in order to express my position, I still want to fulfill his 'loyalty' heart." For now, it is to ensure that the men and horses of the new Birch attack on the rear of the Tatars can be smoothly withdrawn to the Guannai, what is your good plan for this? ”

Zhou Jing looked at Ma Wensheng and retreated.

Roughly speaking, Ma Shangshu, it's time for you to come out and offer advice.

Ma Wensheng also knew that this matter had to be done by himself, because the cabinet obviously wanted to pretend to be dumb today, and he knew very well the character of the three old foxes in the cabinet.

Ma Wensheng raised the wat board, his tone was not as steady as before, but he seemed a little anxious: "Your Majesty, the old minister thinks that after the new Bosuo department enters the Tatar hinterland, it may be the easiest to fall into a heavy siege, and the plan for now is to find the location of his soldiers and horses, and at the same time provide assistance, he may send someone to announce the decree with the Tatars." ”

Rush to help?

Where to go?

We don't even know where Wang Shouren's headquarters is, and Your Majesty actually asked us what good plan we have for rushing to his aid? It's a bit of a waste of time.

As for the so-called sending people to hold the festival, there is a meaning of sending people to mediate with the Tatars, we all kinds of people and horses attack the grassland, in exchange for the Ming Dynasty not to attack, you will obediently make a way to let Wang Shouren take his 6,000 soldiers and horses...... Or now I don't know how many people are left, in short, let them return to the territory of Daming.

Zhu Youzhu said coldly: "Could it be that the Ministry of War thinks that Uncle Xinjian can't come back, so he has to beg Hu Lu to let him come back with the remnants?" ”

"The old minister didn't mean that." Ma Wensheng flatly denied it.

What he means is that Lao Chen clearly said just now that it is Wang Shouren who walks like this, and it is easy to fall into a heavy siege, I didn't say that he must be under siege, even if he is still dealing with the Tatars, should he find the location of his soldiers and horses first? It is convenient for Your Majesty and your old man to give full play to the talent of "hindsight"?

Zhu Youji's face was not good.

The withdrawal of Tatar troops was a good thing worth "celebrating" for him, the emperor, which meant that it was likely that Wang Shouren had achieved relatively large results in the steppe, turning a thorn into a nail, or even a long sword inserted into the belly of the Tatars.

But the minister always doesn't give him face.

It seems that Wang Shouren is about to burp, and his "illusion" seems to be about to be shattered.

When you are an emperor, every day the ministers create trouble for you, and you have nothing to do, which is called to make you tighten your heartstrings all the time, so that you can focus on state affairs......

He who was born in sorrow and died in peace.

You are not tired, but my heart is tired.

Thinking about it this way, it's better to be lenient, he never tries to create any sense of crisis for me, nor does he create trouble, but always helps me solve trouble.

……

……

Zhu Youzhu thought so, and the scene was so stiff.

In the end, Zhu Youzhu still needed to take the initiative to break the deadlock, and he asked Xiao Jingdao on the side: "Bingkuan has not played for me recently?" For example, when it comes to the process of this battle, there are also opinions about where Xinbo will send troops and where he needs to send them. ”

This may seem like a personal matter.

But Zhu Youzhu said very loudly, as if he deliberately let the ministers present hear.

Let me let you know what I need?

What I say is what I care about in my heart, and it is often what Bingkuan can think of, and even report to me.

Xiao Jing said: "Lai Guogong has not had any invitations in recent days. ”

Zhang Zhouren was in Nanjing, and he didn't know what he was thinking, anyway, Zhang Zhou almost didn't say a word about the war in the north, as if this war had nothing to do with him.

Not to mention Xiao Jing, along with the court's civil servants Wuxun, and Zhu Youji, they don't seem to understand this very well.

Of course, there will also be villains, thinking that Zhang Zhou wants to show that this battle has nothing to do with him, and wants to clear up the relationship with this battle afterwards, or even evade responsibility.

But those who have a heart also know that Zhang Zhou can't choose it.

"Hmm."

When Zhu Youzhu heard Xiao Jing's words, he seemed to be very excited, but in fact, his expression was more acting, "Bingkuan didn't mention it, which means that he is very optimistic about the outcome of this battle, and it is estimated that there will be good news in the next two days." ”

When the minister heard this, could he still understand it like this?

Sure enough, Your Majesty, your trust in Zhang Bingkuan is extraordinary, so much so that in your heart, Zhang Bingkuan is really omnipotent from heaven to earth, this kind of blind trust...... It's just going to mislead the country and the people.

"That's it." Zhu Youzhu added, "In the past two days, one person from the Cabinet Department, the Upper Listening Office, the Six Ministries, and the Governor's Mansion has been sent to stay in the Wenhua Hall and wait for dispatch at any time. ”

Liu Jian finally walked out, but he questioned it, he said, "Your Majesty, I don't know why?" ”

Zhu Youzhu said: "We must deal with changes at any time, if we learn the news, we have to invite someone back to discuss, but I am afraid that it will be too late, the battle of the grassland is urgent, and every time there is a change, we must be dispatched at any time." ”

Liu Jian wanted to say that if the situation happened on the grassland, His Majesty in the capital and the princes and ministers should discuss countermeasures, convey the past and then implement it, then the daylily would be cold.

In other words, the grass grew on the bodies of Wang Shouren and his 6,000 soldiers in the Violent Corpse Wilderness.

"I want you to wait with me, can't you?"

The Emperor's tone became a little indifferent.

You usually don't talk against it, but now let each of your yamen send someone to wait for the change of the war together, and listen to my summons at any time to discuss countermeasures, do you think you are wronged, or what?

Liu Jian understood that the emperor made this decision because he was worried in his heart and wanted more people to share it.

So he has nothing to object to.

……

……

The court meeting ended.

As the emperor decreed, each of the six yamen had to send people to the Wenhua Palace, and it was stipulated that there must be more than "squires", which probably meant that I didn't want to hear the opinions of ordinary people.

And when the emperor asked him to send people before, he deliberately said that before the six ministries behind the cabinet, he was probably giving face to the cabinet.

Li Rong stayed behind to launch a call for this matter.

"Ladies and gentlemen, you are old and old, and you have not been able to fulfill your responsibilities in a big way, and I hope that you can understand Your Majesty's good intentions, and as for who to send, you can discuss it clearly, or you can recommend yourself."

Li Rong also looks like a good old man, and the way he speaks is very similar to the previous celebrant Seal Daiyi, but there is some shrewdness in his "honesty".

But in fact, his ability is still inferior to Xiao Jing, which even Li Rong himself knows.

But if it's better than Dai Yi...... Li Rong knew that he was much stronger.

As for loyalty to the emperor, he Li Rong felt that he was stronger again.

Xie Qian walked over and asked with a smile: "If there are people in the Shangting Office and the cabinet, do you want to send two more people there?" ”

Li Rong said with a smile: "It is not impossible for Elder Li Ge to represent both the cabinet and the upper listening office. ”

Zhang Mao also came over and said: "The old lady is dizzy, and it is difficult to bear the chores in the public office on weekdays, so today I want to stay in the palace to give advice to His Majesty, and the old man will bear this hardship and stay in the palace in the name of the Governor's Mansion." ”

Didn't your cabinet want Li Dongyang to represent both the cabinet and the upper hearing?

Then I Zhang Mao can't be pressed by you, it's my turn to make decisions, although I, Zhang Mao, am old, but on behalf of the martial arts of the Governor's Mansion, it is still incumbent on me.

Someone else?

I'm afraid that the group of people is not capable.

Or rather, they have too little to say.

Xie Qian smiled: "Why should the British prince bother himself? This kind of thing should be done by someone who has experience in managing the army in the northwest in recent years, and I think it is good to become a prince. ”

Zhang Mao pouted and said, "Cheng Guogong has already gone to Nanjing, don't you know Yu Qiao?" ”

"He ......"

Xie Qian couldn't help frowning.

If Zhu Fu went to Nanjing, everyone knows why.

However, the emperor did not explicitly say that Zhu Fu would return to Nanjing to replace Xu Li as the garrison of Nanjing...... Now let people set off first, is the emperor preparing to "cut first and then report"? Is it necessary? Who should be the garrison of Nanjing, that is Your Majesty's own family matter, I can't even take care of the affairs of the northwest, who cares about this?

Zhou Jing walked over and said, "I will go to the household department." If you talk about the Governor's Mansion, in fact, you can also protect the country! ”

Zhou Jing knew that he was about to retire, so he didn't let the two squires take on any errands to guard the Wenhua Palace, he just wanted to go by himself.

When Li Rong saw that several people were still arguing about who should be sent by the Governor's Office, he smiled and said, "Each is discussed by the public party itself, and there is no need to listen to the opinions of others, everyone." The old man went outside to wait first, and after he decided to make his own decision, he came out and waited, and the old man could lead the way to the Wenhua Hall together! ”

……

……

The final candidates are all decided.

Except for the household department, which was sent by Shangshu Zhou Jing, the cabinet sent Li Dongyang, and at the same time, Li Dongyang also represented the Shangting Office, and the rest only sent the waiters, and they were all right waiters.

Zuo Shilang wants to be in charge of the ministry, and he has no time to go, and the other Shangshu also boast that he is very busy, as if only Zhou Jing, the Shangshu who is in charge of money and grain, is an idler, and it is precisely at this time that the grain tax is put into the warehouse after the autumn harvest, and the household department is also the busiest time.

The group and Li Rong went to the Wenhua Palace.

Xie Qian and Liu Jian went back to the cabinet duty room, and after the two arrived at the duty room, before the door closed, someone came in to deliver the brazier.

"A little early, right? The clothes are tight, the doors and windows are closed, and it is not so cold. Xie Qiandao.

The guard who sent the charcoal fire said: "This is a special order of Your Majesty, there is a lot of charcoal this year, and it will be everywhere after the cold." ”

"Coal?"

Xie Qian glanced at Liu Jian sideways, as if to say, look, the "sequelae" of the emperor's reuse of Zhang Bingkuan has arisen, and all kinds of things that did not exist in the past have now begun to affect everything in our daily life.

After the brazier was put down, Xie Qian couldn't directly close all the doors and windows, but always had to ventilate.

Xie Qian said: "I went to Wang Dehui yesterday, and he told me that after going to Liaodong from Bo'an, he never sent a letter to his home. It seems that His Majesty and Zhang Bingkuan are deliberately trying to prevent him from leaning towards us. ”

The traditional Wenchen represented by Liu Jian seems to know very well how to "dig the foot of the wall".

Wang Shouren is currently the number one capable minister under Zhang Zhou, after Wang Shouren temporarily served as the governor of Datong, and then went to Liaodong as the commander of the slave Gandu Division, Wang Shouren's status in the Ming army rose rapidly, and the traditional civil servants naturally had to start from Wang Shouren's father as a traditional civil minister.

But Wang Hua didn't cover it either.

Wang Hua has long seen that he is not popular among the traditional factions, and his educational philosophy for his son is...... Stinky boy, do whatever comes to mind, don't care what your father and I think.

So much so that no matter how the traditional civilian-official faction tries to put pressure on the father and son of the old Wang family, the effect is very weak.

Liu Jian closed his eyes and said, "Wang Dehui seems to be avoiding people recently, or he has different thoughts about Bo'an. ”

Xie Qian said: "Are we being too harsh on him?" ”

Liu Jian shook his head and did not answer such a sharp question.

Xie Qian said again: "The current situation is becoming more and more unreal, Zhang Bingkuan is in Nanjing, even if he can predict everything on the grassland, but he can pass the letter over in time?" How dare did Wang Bo'an have, or how did His Majesty make Wang Bo'an take 6,000 soldiers and horses to the hinterland behind Di Yi so disregarding life and death? ”

Liu Jian still didn't answer.

It's time for the battle to decide the outcome of the war, and maybe even the winner has been decided, but when the news hasn't been sent back yet, it seems that there is no point in caring about this.

"If you lose the battle." Xie Qian suddenly sighed, "I'm afraid that no one in the court can bear it." ”

Liu Jian said: "It's Zhang Bingkuan who can't bear it, right?" ”

Xie Qian frowned and said, "Could it be Liu Zhongtang, do you think that Wang Bo'an and his six thousand soldiers are so reluctant?" ”

Liu Jian said with a straight face: "What happened thousands of miles away, Yu Qiao, what can you and I do to make even the slightest change in this?" Your Majesty has long ceased to consult us on military and political matters, and now what do you think has to do with us in this reluctance or reluctance? Even if he really gave up, if he could use Wang Bo'an's blood to make His Majesty understand the consequences of partiality and bias, make up for the loss, and set aside the chaos anyway, it is still unknown? ”

As soon as the topic opened, Xie Qian fell into a short silence.

"Huh."

Xie Qian smiled bitterly and sighed, "Alas! I finally got it. This defeat is a weight that we can't bear, and even if we win, we can't bear it. Then it is better to be a bystander, laughing at the wind and clouds, this rise is for the victory of the family and the country, and the defeat is for the righteousness of the clear stream! In this way, bad things become good things, and I will be invincible, right!? ”

(End of chapter)