Zhang Zhou, the "director" of the Daming Ordnance Factory, originally planned to go to inspect the cannon around noon, but early in the morning, Li Rong brought the factory guards to give gifts. net

Li Rong had a smile on his face, and flatteringly told Zhang Zhou about Huamachi's ambush to win.

"The results are remarkable, but compared to the previous ones...... Mr. Zhang, do you know His Majesty's expectations for the Northwest War now...... Quite ......"

On the way to the palace with Zhang Zhou, Li Rong also showed the current situation.

Probably speaking, the emperor's expectations are too high, and the general victory can no longer make the emperor feel that this is a "great victory", but killing 1,800 people is actually enough to brag in front of the minister, otherwise Zhang Zhou would not have been allowed to follow Li Rong into the court today and enjoy the "glory of victory" together.

The noon gate is already in front of you, the ministers who were waiting in advance have already entered the palace, and Zhang Zhou belongs to the last person in the last batch.

Zhang Zhou looked at the palace gate and said: "Now that the war is not over, I am afraid that it is not appropriate to celebrate the victory too early, after all, the little prince of Tatar has brought tens of thousands of soldiers and horses, maybe he will have reinforcements arriving in the future, and the outcome will be unpredictable."

Li Rong said with a smile: "It is not difficult to predict the outcome of the victory. Mr. Zhang, you are in the military department, and it is not the first day that you know about the war in the Ming Frontier, so do you still use our family to tell you in detail?"

Zhang Zhou didn't answer.

In the northwest of the Ming Dynasty, before he Zhang Zhou, almost every "good news" was piled up with the blood of the Ming soldiers, and a good report that killed dozens of people may be several times more than the Tatars on the Ming side.

Li Rong's meaning, we have already lured the Tatars into the urn, and the result will definitely be able to kill a lot of ***, just report the good news and not the bad news when the time comes, no matter how much you lose, just increase the number of enemies killed.

Zhang Zhou was embarrassed to say.

Am I that kind of person?

Besides, the war in the northwest was not fought by me personally, so what do I need to hide? Win or lose, just say, whoever loses the most is the loser.

Outside the Fengtian Temple, the minister arrived very early, but he was never summoned to the palace, and the court meeting did not begin.

It seems to be waiting for someone.

Through some "grapevine", the ministers had already spread the situation of the battle in the northwest obtained last night, and the fact that Yang Yiqing led his troops to set up an ambush in Huamachi to win was like the most feared nightmare in every minister's heart, and it quickly spread among them.

"It turned out to be from Huamachi, it seems that the military department made arrangements early in the morning, otherwise it wouldn't be so precise to wait for work in Huamachi?"

Those who were regarded as the target of the public were Xiong Chong and Xiong Xiu, the two waiters of the military department.

Because the ambush must have been arranged in advance...... It could also be thought that it was actually Yang Yiqing or his generals who were prescient.

However, in connection with the previous discussion between the emperor and Zhang Zhou about "where did the Tatars come from" in the Beijing Division, it is now believed that the military department had prepared a perfect plan in advance, but did not inform the ministers of the court in detail.

Xiong Da and Xiong Er were silent at this time, although they already knew a little bit of the inside story, but the emperor and Zhang Zhou didn't let them say, even if their hearts were on the side of the traditional Wenchen, they had to pretend to be deaf and dumb in front of people.

"What are you waiting for? Could it be that there will be a war coming?"

A lot of people can't wait.

During the Hongzhi period of the Ming Dynasty, this group of ministers has actually been "spoiled" by Zhu Youji, everyone feels that they are the pillars of the country, and even standing there and waiting for a while, they all feel that the emperor has treated them badly.

Xie Qian walked over to reassure everyone: "Ladies and gentlemen, I think Your Majesty has an urgent matter to deal with."

"Dealing with business? Shouldn't it be in the court?" Fu Handao, the left attendant of the Ministry of Rites.

Originally, Fu Han was the candidate to replace the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, and later he was ready to transfer him to Nanjing to be the secretary, but after the final court push...... Fu Han took the initiative to give up the opportunity to go to Nanjing to be a scholar, preferring to continue to work in the capital.

In his opinion, it seems that it is better to be a left waiter of the Northern Ministry of Rites than to go to Nanjing to be a secretary of the Ministry of Rites.

Xie Qian smiled and looked around

He said, "See who hasn't come."

Who didn't come?

Before the court meeting, basically everyone who should have come came, if it is said that the people who did not come are very conspicuous, it is naturally ...... The secretary of the military department, but he usually doesn't come often.

Xie Qian's hint is obvious, the emperor must be discussing official business with Zhang Bingkuan now, and Zhang Bingkuan alone represents our Manchu Dynasty civil and military.

Defy?

Who made Zhang Bingkuan bet right this time?

But before Xie Qian's words fell, Zhang Zhou followed Li Rong and came with brisk steps.

Originally, not many people in the traditional civil servants were waiting to see Zhang Zhou, but today they saw Zhang Zhou...... It's like seeing a rare guest, and they all turn around and salute, as if they all know that Zhang Zhou is the protagonist today.

Zhang Zhou lined up to the waiting court.

Someone came to greet him, and they were basically neutral people, and Wu Xun didn't have a chance to come over to say hello.

Soon after Zhang Zhou arrived, after Li Rongtong's transmission, the ministers could enter the Fengtian Palace.

The emperor came in person, and the court meeting began.

One up.

Zhu Youzhi asked Li Rong to read out the victory report of Yang Yiqing and other local defenders of Ningxia, originally the emperor wanted to make the ministers present excited, but because the ministers had already known the news in advance, so that after the reading of the good news, the atmosphere was not too warm.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this battle can be said to be a victory." Zhu Youzhi used an uplifting tone to add a festive atmosphere to this good news.

Liu Jian wanted to come out and raise some questions or something, but after looking at Zhang Zhou sideways, he finally decided not to come out.

But his eyes ...... It's kind of like hinting at something.

Then the ministers saw Zhang Zhou come out of the court.

"Bingkuan, is there anything wrong with you?" Zhu Youzhu was still very curious.

According to the previous routine, this should be Liu Jian and others coming out to pour cold water and sing a counter-tune or something, I am ready, why did Bingkuan come out today?

Zhang Zhou said: "Back to Your Majesty, the ministers have learned that the Tatars have now entered the Ming Pass and are plundering everywhere, and the Ming official army is now difficult to stop its troops, although there are also people from all walks of life are gathering in Ningxia, I am afraid that in the next few days to ten months, the Tatar ravages will continue."

When the ministers heard this, they didn't react a little.

Today's contrarian has become Zhang Zhou himself?

Or does he want to exonerate himself in advance? After all, the idea of cutting off the back road of the Tatars is likely to be proposed by Zhang Zhou, leading the king into the urn and bringing the Tatars to the pass of the Ming Dynasty...... Someone must be responsible for the losses of the military and civilians.

Zhu Youzhu said: "The Tatars knocked on the pass, their wolf ambitions are clearly revealed, and now they have suffered a new defeat, their morale must be low, at this time, if all the people of the border army can work together, they will definitely be able to trap the Tatars in the urn, and then ...... Hmm."

The emperor almost blurted out the strategic significance of "Shigou City", but like the previous stalk of Huamachi, Zhu Youzhi also knew whether to hide it or hide it first.

What if the Tatars don't go to Shigou City?

Or don't fill it up in advance.

This made the ministers who were waiting to hear the details anxious, and they all wondered, what would happen then? Your Majesty, you said it clearly.

Zhang Zhou said: "Back to Your Majesty, at this time, the three armies should be strictly ordered not to retreat, for every inch of land must be contested, if there is an enemy who does not flinch, it should be regarded as delaying the fighter, even if it is victorious, it should be held responsible."

"It makes sense." Zhu Youzhu and Zhang Zhou seemed to sing and harmonize, and said with tacit understanding, "Now that the Tatars have entered the pass, if there are still people who ignore the war situation and retreat before the battle in matters related to the life and death of the people, I will definitely not be spared."

Xie Qian finally couldn't help but come out and said, "Cai Guogong, with your intentions, do you expect someone to cower?"

Zhang Zhou said: "I don't expect anyone to be determined below, I just want to say ugly things in front."

Xie Qian squinted his eyes and said, "Or Cai Guogong thinks that whoever is likely to cower and just point it out in the court

。」

Just say, if you say the name of Zhu Hui, the prince of the country, we can know who you are targeting.

Zhang Zhou asked curiously, "Could it be that Elder Xie Ge also has the same thoughts as me in his heart, thinking that someone will miss the fighter?" If Elder Xie Ge doesn't mind, he can also say his name, so that he can do some detail in the court, or he can quickly remind him, which can be regarded as a kind of beating on him."

"Huh." Xie Qian shook his head with a weird smile, and he didn't take a step.

The previous words, Xie Qian did not go out of the courtier's class, which was tantamount to a kind of questioning of Zhang Zhou on the spot.

Zhu Youzhu said peacefully: "I understand the thoughts of your Qing family, if there are really people who cower when they encounter the enemy, resulting in an unfavorable battle situation, I must investigate to the end. Ladies and gentlemen, although the credit for Huamachi's victory this time is on the Ningxia soldiers, the merit of planning is still Bingkuan."

Finally got to the point, and the ministers present all held their breath.

The emperor is ready to promote Zhang Zhou again? There's nothing to go up to.

Zhang Zhou said: "Your Majesty, the minister does not dare to take credit, this battle is the result of His Majesty's wise decision, the minister just put forward the idea of the Tatar invasion of the territory, and pointed out the weaknesses of the northwest defense, who knows...... The Tatars have really come from Huamachi."

A proper show of power.

I calculated it casually, and then I hit?

At this time, Li Rong on the side said: "Your Majesty, two days ago, the news of the hailstorm around Shuntianfu came, because all localities were prepared in advance, although the hailstorm was turbulent, but the local people and animals were basically unhindered, and it all relied on Zhang Butang's early warning. Zhang Butang is not only for the military and government, but also for the people's livelihood, and he is a loyal minister of the Ming Dynasty."

Liu Jian and the others glared at Li Rong.

As if to say, you old eunuch, you don't know that it is unruly for you to talk like this?

Just talk about things, why do you have to add your own opinions, saying what kind of loyal minister he is? What are we but his loyal servants?

But after listening to Zhu Youji, these words are very useful, this is the difference between Li Rong and others, in accordance with the emperor's meaning, no matter what kind of personal opinion you add, the emperor will feel that you are "very good at doing things", on the contrary, when you encounter some emperors who don't like to listen, even if you are just a little mixed with a little opinion, the emperor will think that you have transgression.

Zhu Youzhu nodded and said, "Meritorious, it is to be rewarded."

Immediately, Zhu Youzhu looked around at the ministers present and said, "But it's still a little early to say goodbye, and we will have to wait for the war in the northwest to subside before we will make a detailed decision. Bingkuan, you have to worry a lot lately, although it is thousands of miles from Jingshi to Ningxia, and the transmission of news is inconvenient, but with your ability to anticipate things like a god, many things can be warned in advance, and the court will rely on you."

Zhang Zhou hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, how can the minister be virtuous, he doesn't dare to take such a heavy responsibility."

Zhu Youzhu smiled and said, "You don't dare to take on a heavy responsibility, who dare?"

This is not only like asking Zhang Zhou, but also like mocking the ministers present.

Although today's minister's opposition to Zhang Zhou is very low, and even only Xie Qian came out to ridicule him, the emperor can still sense that the opinions of those traditional ministers are very large, and now the emperor has made it clear that if you are not convinced, you can stand up, and if you think you can replace Zhang Zhou, you can also stand up.

If not......

Then shut up.

"By the way, Bingkuan, how do you think the war in Ningxia will progress next? In front of all of you, but it doesn't hurt to say it."

In the end, Zhu Youzhu seemed to understand the ministers present, seeing that the ministers of the Manchu Dynasty were all kept in the dark, and asked Zhang Zhou to explain to everyone.

"Back to Your Majesty, Yichen believes that the Tatar morale is low at this time, but the little Tatar prince is absolutely unwilling to withdraw from the territory of the Ming Dynasty like this, and will definitely loot the border passes, and then wait for the opportunity to retreat north. Zhang Zhou analyzes the battle situation.

When Zhu Youzhu heard this, his eyes were a little red, and he almost shouted "yes" in public.

Because that's what he's after.

If he could annex the little Tatar prince and his 30,000 soldiers and horses at one time, it would be his ultimate dream, so that he would not even have to personally lead his troops into the steppe

。

Li Dongyang said: "If everything is really as Cai Guogong said, the little prince of Tatar led his troops to sink in the territory of the Ming Dynasty, then the Tatar internal turmoil will be plunged, and in the next few years or even more than ten years, the Tatars may no longer have the power to deal with the Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Youzhu smiled and said, "Elder Li Ge, what I want is not to cut off their wings, but to completely strangle the Tatars like jackals. I also know that it will not be easy to catch the cunning head wolf of the little prince of Tatar, but it is man-made, and since he has taken the initiative to commit it and throw himself into the trap, I think that this opportunity should not be missed."

Li Dongyang continued: "But Your Majesty, this battle is being fought in the territory of the Ming Dynasty, or it may harm the people, if there is any omission in the war, it will threaten the peace of the people in Guanlong, Pingliang and other places."

Zhu Youji's face immediately turned unhappy and said, "Now that you have taken strict precautions, what else should you do? Do you want me to go on a personal expedition? Or does Li Ge have a better strategy?"

Li Dongyang didn't expect that he was just reminding the emperor that his routine speech could provoke such strong feedback from the emperor, and he could only keep silent.

"Alright."

Zhu Youzhu said with a final word, "This battle is still ongoing, and today's victory is just to boost the morale of the Ming army and people. What are the deficiencies in the precautions in the northwest, and what are the difficulties in the transportation of grain and grass, you can speak freely, and what I want is a complete victory."

Marven said, "Maybe you can send troops all the way from Datong to disturb the rear of the Tatars."

According to Ma Wensheng's meaning, it is necessary to create a little pressure on the rear of the Tatars, and the one who has this ability is naturally Wang Shouren, who has already swept the grassland many times before.

Zhu Youzhu raised his hand to interrupt Ma Wensheng's words, and said decisively: "I have my own judgment on the matter of marching and dispatching. I will discuss with you as appropriate......

Zhu Youzhu almost wanted to say, you just need to provide advice on logistics and supplies, as for how to transfer troops, you don't need to mention it, and I won't listen, after all, Bingkuan is here.

After saying that, I felt that it was inappropriate, so I said that I would discuss it as appropriate.

Talk about a fart.

I don't listen to Bingkuan, and I won't listen to you, don't I have a brain?

At this time, listening to you, the final battle situation is not satisfactory, so whose responsibility is it?

Zhu Youzhi's original intention was also to preside over the war with Zhang Zhouquan as the leader, and he did not think that Ma Wensheng, the secretary of the ministry, would be qualified to interfere in the military affairs of the northwest.

The court meeting ended.

Not surprisingly, Zhang Zhou, under the envious and jealous gaze of a crowd, went to the Qianqing Palace with Zhu Youzhu to discuss things.

The monarch and the minister have important military affairs to be discussed by the inner court, and do not consult with the minister...... Before this kind of thing changed, there must have been a lot of people jumping on their feet, but now it is ...... Everyone knows what has happened in the past few years, and they also understand that Zhang Zhou is indispensable to the military and government of the Ming Dynasty.

"Elder Liu Ge, do you think you can continue to win this battle?"

Hubu Shangshu Tong Zhong walked up to Liu Jian and asked in a low voice.

Originally, Liu Jian was still talking to Ma Wensheng about the Jingcha of the Ministry of Officials, but when he heard this, he looked sideways.

Liu Jian didn't say anything, Xie Qian smiled and said, "It's Zhang Bingkuan's credit to win, and it's his responsibility to lose, isn't it good?"

Shake the pot and shake it first-class.

Tong Zhong said: "The money and food used by the household department for river work this year is much less than usual, I am afraid that His Majesty intends to use troops in the border town, and I am afraid that it will be ...... if it continues like this."

"There's something to bring up." Xie Qian said, "River work is the foundation of the country, and the people of the Central Plains can all look at it, and they don't use it in river work but use it in military and political affairs, which is the harbinger of reckless military force. Confucianism and law to establish a country, this is to abandon the original and chase the end."

"Mention it again?"

Tong Zhong frowned.

For upstarts like Tong Zhong, they thought that the current Wenchen was adhering to the principle of appeasement and appeasement, probably not to confront Zhang Zhou, and not to challenge the emperor's enthusiasm for military and political affairs.

As if everything could be compromised.

But now Xie Qian has also made it clear that the principle of Confucian officials cannot be abolished, and it should be tough

Be tough.

Liu Jian said coldly: "If the foundation of the country is really messed up, the Ming Dynasty will go into decline, which is unbearable for the benevolent people. There are no victorious generals on the battlefield, not to mention that someone has never made meritorious service on the battlefield, so can he really have God's help?"

The implication is that Zhang Zhou will always have a time when the horse stumbles.

How can the harmony of kings and ministers last forever?

Xie Qian said with a smile: "It is inevitable that you will think of the Yuxiu Pavilion on Long Live Mountain, the way of Zhengchen lies in long-term persistence, and the way of Shechen lies in the favor of time...... Flowers are not red for a hundred days."

When He Zhong heard this, he was in a strange mood.

He really wanted to say, can Zhang Bingkuan be simply attributed to a "minister"? Where can you tell that he is "bad"? It is close to the emperor, but the problem is ......

Da Ming seems to be inseparable from him at present!

But now that the cabinet has set the tone, he still has to compete with Zhang Zhou, so he, as a traditional faction, can only rush up, unless he is ready to oppose the traditional faction, which is something that an upstart like him with an unstable foundation cannot afford.

He also needs Liu Jian and others to support him in the court, after all, he knows very well that the household department is the emperor's next six yamen to be included in the bag.

Inside the Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Youzhu sat opposite Zhang Zhou, there was no suspicion between the monarch and the ministers, and Zhu Youzhu did not talk too much about the war in Ningxia, but gossiped with Zhang Zhou, talking more about Zhu Houzhao's education.

But in the end, Zhu Youzhu still couldn't help mentioning the frontier.

"As far as I know, after Zhu Hui entered the Hetao, he cowered and delayed his advance, and the Shaanxi Supervision Imperial History, the Sentencing and Prosecution Department have repeatedly played to impeach him, and even some generals in the army look at him blindly, and he is even more unscrupulous in the army...... If it weren't for the fact that the war was still going on, I would have liked to take him back and ask him about his guilt."

When Zhu Youzhu mentioned Zhu Hui, he hated it so much that the roots of his teeth itched.

Zhang Zhou wanted to say, it wasn't me who caused this product to be like this, and this product itself is like this, otherwise it would not be that he only inherited the title of Duke Baoguo for one generation, and the next generation could only inherit a marquis.

The dwarf is taller, and no one is stronger than anyone in the old Ming Dynasty, so who will be more awesome...... Pointless.

Zhang Zhou said: "Your Majesty, as long as the Duke of Baoguo can still hold the crossings of the fortresses, there will be no big problem, this battle still depends on Yang Yiqing, the governor of Ningxia, and Guo Jun, the chief military officer of Ningxia, these two are the key to victory."

Zhu Youzhu asked, "Then what if Yang Yiqing found out that Baoguo Gong failed to march with all his strength, he himself would have flinched?"

"No, it won't." Zhang Zhou is a little confident in Yang Yiqing at this point.

Xiao Jing next to him reminded: "Cai Guogong, have you forgotten that in the first year, this Governor Yang didn't seem to have any substantive battles with the little Tatar prince, but he still relied on the Marquis of Anbian to deal with him."

Zhang Zhou deliberately paid attention to Zhu Youji's reaction, and knew from the fact that Zhu Youzhu did not blame Xiao Jing that Xiao Jing's words were obviously also conveyed from Zhu Youji's usual worries, or the hidden worries expressed by Zhu Youzhu in front of them.

Before this battle, Yang Yiqing was indeed not a "positive character".

The emperor was full of suspicion about people like Yang Yiqing, who did not belong to Zhang Zhou's faction.

Zhang Zhou said: "What the Tatars are committing now is the land of Ningxia, if the follow-up war does not go well, even if the Ningxia official army wins the battle of Huamachi, it will be difficult to hide the fact of defeat. For Bao Guogong, this battle can be won or not, as long as the Tatars withdraw their troops, even if they are captured by the Tatars, he can shirk his responsibility."

"But for Yang Yiqing, Guo Jun and others, it is an unshirkable responsibility, and there is no way back for them. Moreover, Yichen's understanding of Yang Yiqing, he should still have this responsibility...... And he should know how to judge the situation, and know that in this battle, the strategic significance achieved by advancing is greater than retreating."

In these words, Zhang Zhou is completely out of his understanding of history, and he relies on history to summarize who Yang Yiqing is.