In the Yanwu Hall, Zhang Zhou has not been here for many days, and he came with Li Rong this time.

On that day, a special "guest" came to the Yanwutang, or a new member, it was Lu Wan, who had just returned from Liaodong, and he had returned to Beijing this time to report on his work, and the emperor had not yet assigned him a new errand.

"I've seen Zhang Butang."

Lu Wan looked very respectful when he saw Zhang Zhou, although he was not a student of Zhang Zhou, but Zhang Zhou had the grace to support him, and what he showed was also a kind of posture of a junior, although he was in his forties, in the officialdom that was accustomed to seniority, Lu Wan already seemed to be self-degrading in front of Zhang Zhou.

Zhang Zhou greeted with a smile.

There were also Zhu Feng and several generals on the side, and then Zhang Zhou let several generals take the lead back to the school field of Yanwutang, Zhang Zhou seemed to want to talk to Lu Wan alone, while Li Rong and Zhu Feng on the side did not leave.

Zhang Zhoudao: "Lu Zhongcheng must have heard about the war in Ningxia, and now that the northwest is the time to employ people, you can be transferred to the towns in the northwest at any time."

The governor of Liaodong transferred the towns in the northwest, and he should be a governor anyway, but now there are no vacancies in the towns in the northwest, and Lu Wan obviously does not plan to go to the northwest to be the governor, what he wants to get more now is the position of the squire of the sixth division of the Beijing Division, although he himself knows that it is not enough to obtain this status.

In terms of merit, there is still a gap between him and Wang Qiong.

Li Rong on the side also smiled and said, "Lu Zhongcheng has just come back from Liaodong, and if he goes to the northwest, it will inevitably be hard. It should also be arranged to talk to the ministers in the court about the situation in Liaodong after entering the court, and now the government and the opposition are also very concerned about Liaodong."

The capital of the northwest region returned to Beijing, and it was originally possible to report to the military department, but with the previous war in Liaodong, Lu Wan actually had the need to do the above in the court, and he could even go to the saint to report his work.

Lu Wan said: "Before returning to Beijing, I handed over the affairs with the new governor of Liaodong, Han Chong, although it was explained in detail at that time, but on the way back to Beijing, I recalled the omissions in various places in the northwest in the past two years, and specially sorted it out in a way that was sorted out and reported to His Majesty. Please also ask Zhang Butang for advice."

As he spoke, Lu Wan took out something from his arms that seemed to be a piece of music and handed it to Zhang Zhou.

Zhang Zhou smiled and waved his hand and said, "You are a little out of order, what do you think of, if you want to play it, you don't need to ask my opinion." Grandpa Li, what do you say?"

Li Rong smiled: "It is not impossible for Mr. Zhang to give the palm eye first. It's not that Lu Zhongcheng is afraid of omissions."

"Goodbye." Zhang Zhoudao, "He just came back from Liaodong, and many things, as Gonggong Li said, are better to talk about in public, and now he only talks about training generals in the Yanwu Hall. As for Lu Zhongcheng's next arrangement, it also depends on His Majesty's arrangement." net

"yes." Li Rong also smiled.

After Lu Wan returned to Beijing, it was obvious that the position was still very awkward, and the six servants could not be the servants, but only arranged a governor of the inner three passes, but Zhang Zhou didn't seem to have any intention of revealing the news to Lu Wan.

When Zhang Zhou saw Lu Wan, Lu Wan followed Zhu Feng to check the renovation of various facilities in Yanwutang, after all, Lu Wan had stayed in Yanwutang, and it was regarded as an old man who had returned, and Yanwutang had undergone earth-shaking changes before he went to Liaodong.

When Li Rong was with Zhang Zhou in private, he asked curiously, "Why didn't Mr. mention the matter of the inner three passes to him? It stands to reason that he should go to work."

Zhang Zhoudao: "I think his expectations for the official position may be too high."

"This ......" Li Rong heard it, this didn't seem to be a compliment to Lu Wan, but more like a criticism of Lu Wan's eagerness for quick success.

Li Rong said in front of him, this kind of words can easily reach the ears of the emperor, and Zhang Zhou's evaluation of Lu Wan seems to be to reach the emperor's ears through his Li Rong's mouth.

Zhang Zhou sighed, "Gonggong Li, do you think there is anything wrong with the few people I recommended to the imperial court before, especially among the people in the towns of the Nine Sides?"

"This ......"

Li Rong continued to smile bitterly, even pretending to be confused.

Zhang Zhou said: "I was in the court before, I didn't have much prestige, the government and the opposition were not familiar with me, I have been in the court for less than three years, and now I am in a high position, even now, I am also criticized. And most of the people I recommend are new subjects

Why do you think they should accept my offer and go to war according to my commands?"

Li Rong smiled: "That's because they judge the situation and know what Mr. is capable of, so they will listen. Also, they have no backer, so they can only rely on Mr. Yu."

"It's not." Zhang Zhou shook his head and said, "They have the ability, they have their own opinions, and they are even ambitious for their careers, and it is because they have this ambition that they are willing to stand side by side with me." If I can't give them what they want, do you think they'll do their best?"

"Huh?" Li Rong was even more surprised.

Zhang Zhou's words obviously put Lu Wan and Wang Qiong into a group of people who are "eager for quick success and quick profit".

Zhang Zhoudao: "It's not bad to have a career in office, but I'm afraid that after they have achieved merit, it will be difficult to maintain a normal heart, and it is impossible to beat them with the help of my hand, they are serving Your Majesty, and they should be given by Your Majesty's grace and power, what do you think?"

"Huh. Yes." Li Rong smiled slightly wryly.

He pondered in his heart, no wonder His Majesty has recently begun to reward Wang Qiong with such things as Jade Ruyi, and this trick was reminded by this Cai Guogong.

Zhang Zhou sighed: "What I can give them has been given, and they have made meritorious contributions on the battlefield, both by me and by themselves, and now it is time for them to make their own way out. I don't want to form a gang, so I will try not to associate with them in the future, and Grandpa Li will also be a witness for me."

"Understood."

Li Rong secretly thought, this Cai Guogong is very aware of the disadvantages of forming a party, and he also knows that others have long regarded Wang Qiong and Lu Wan as members of his faction, and he used these people to see that this group of people is very pursuing fame and fortune, and it can be said that he has farsightedness.

Zhang Zhou said: "Your Majesty has mentioned that you may have to summon this Governor Lu alone, and Your Majesty will give him an errand at that time. This is an errand assigned by His Majesty, and it has nothing to do with the Ministry of War and me, so it is up to His Majesty whether he will continue to be the governor of the Inner Three Passes or stay in the Jingshi and Yanwutang. Me...... It's just an idler."

"Is that really what Bingkuan said?"

In the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Youzhu listened to Li Rong's relay, his expression was not moved, while Xiao Jing and other eunuchs next to him were shocked.

Zhang Zhou obviously could form a party and praise Lu Wan and others in front of the emperor, but Zhang Zhou chose a very strange path, that is, he obviously had the grace of recommending Lu Wan and others, but he bitterly explained the advantages and disadvantages of these people to the emperor.

Xiao Jing was thinking, I didn't know that I thought that this Governor Lu had offended that Zhang Banxian, why was he still "slandered" in front of His Majesty?

Li Rong said, "That's true."

Zhu Youzhu nodded and said, "Bingkuan mentioned to me when he used these people that only people who have a desire for official positions and are difficult to quickly promote to a high position under ordinary means will obey their orders, and the employment of people is not based on whether they are greedy for merit, but whether they are capable."

The eunuchs all understood that Zhang Zhou had already laid the groundwork, and the emperor seemed to know the character of Wang Qiong, Lu Wan and others for a long time.

"I have always felt that if they obey Bingkuan's orders, so that they can be more unanimous, maybe Bingkuan is still too concerned about the malicious slander of the courtiers against him, so that he will not form a party. Look at who is around Bingkuan? Is there anyone else who has a close relationship with him except Zhijie?"

Zhu Youji's words made several eunuchs fall into reverie.

Just one Zhu Feng......

And what kind of character Zhu Feng has, it was not clear in the past, but now they know very well, this kid has no ambition at all, and he belongs to eating and waiting for death.

If there is only one Zhu Feng around a so-called powerful minister and a minister, it can only show that this powerful minister is just an opponent in the eyes of people with ulterior motives, and he is essentially just a conscientious and capable minister.

"There are so many things happening in Liaodong, after Lu Wan returns to Beijing, he must have doubts, so after tomorrow morning, let him go to the Shangting office, and I will see him there."

Zhu Youzhu set the details of meeting Lu Wan.

is not summoned in the Qianqing Palace, but goes directly to the listening office, which is equivalent to telling Lu Wan,

You have put the defense of the inner three passes in order, and after returning to the capital, whether you are a squire of the six departments or not, at least let you enter the listening office on duty, so that you will be the real power of the Ming Dynasty.

When Xiao Jing heard this, he inevitably felt a little resistant.

The Shangting Office is equivalent to the second cabinet system of the Ming Dynasty, and now a little-known Lu Wan has the opportunity to enter the Shangting, which will make Xiao Jing feel that he is being decentralized.

Xiao Jing asked, "Your Majesty, did you send someone to talk to him in advance so that he could understand his errand?" If there is something he doesn't understand, you can let him listen to Cai Guogong's opinion more."

"Bingkuan has too many things, if Bingkuan has to worry about the defense of the three inner passes, wouldn't he have to worry about everything? I believe Lu Wan can do all this. Tell me what I said."

Zhu Youzhu said and yawned.

Obviously, Zhu Youzhu is tired again.

Even these eunuchs found that Zhu Youji's body seems to be a little "not as good as before" recently, and he will be tired at every turn, more on the spiritual level, and he will always be unable to fight the court.

Night.

Inside the theater.

Zhang Zhou sat down with Zhu Feng, and Zhu Feng expressed his own "unique" views on the situation in the northwest.

"The Tatars are coming, you should let Xinjian Bo lead the troops, the steppe is boundless, he can find traces of the Tatars, and if he wants to put the Tatars in the pass of the Ming Dynasty, he will clean up, no problem. I'm afraid others really can't do it......

Zhu Feng still admires Wang Shouren very much.

I saw Wang Shouren's ability with my own eyes, and then regarded Wang Shouren as the second Ming God of War besides Zhang Zhou.

What impressed Zhang Zhou was Zhu Feng's understanding of the situation in the northwest...... He could have thought of ...... Others really can't...... That shows that Zhu Feng knows the urine nature of the traditional generals in the northwest.

It's very rare.

Zhang Zhou said: "Your Majesty has his own arrangements for the affairs of the Northwest Frontier. You have cooperated with Yang Yiqing, the governor of Ningxia, how can you still think that he can't do it?"

"This ......" Zhu Feng chose to avoid answering these questions, "Isn't it up to you, Brother Zhang, to decide? If you talk to Your Majesty, Your Majesty will listen."

Obviously, although Zhu Feng worked with Yang Yiqing, Zhu Feng also thought that his level was not good.

But Zhu Feng also seemed to see that Yang Yiqing's ability was just like that.

From Zhu Feng's point of view, if Yang Yi is halal, he has the ability...... Why didn't he lead the troops himself, let me go, and ended up with a dismal ending? I want to plead guilty to the court, and he still stops me, and even fights with me?

This kind of person, I expect him to guard the border pass of the Ming Dynasty?

"No." Zhang Zhou shook his head, "I have to listen to Your Majesty this time, because the battle of the Hetao was drafted and decided by Your Majesty, and I didn't even participate in much planning, I just mentioned to Your Majesty that the Tatars may come from Huamachi, as for how to fight in the future, it depends on the performance of the local generals."

Zhu Feng asked tentatively, "When are you going to personally lead the troops to the battle, Brother Zhang?" It's so easy to fight...... If the little Tatar prince is broken this time, I am afraid that it will be ...... in the future."

"I'm afraid I won't have a chance?" Zhang Zhou said, "Don't worry, if I go on the expedition, I will definitely take you with me, and you won't be able to run at that time, so you should be glad that Your Majesty has no intention of letting me go to the northwest to lead the troops recently."

Zhu Feng bowed his head and was silent.

Zhang Zhou said: "Recently, Ling Zun played with the imperial court and expressed his determination to go to the border town to serve the imperial court. You should learn more from Ling Zun."

"What?" Zhu Feng's face was blinded.

His father, finally got his wish, returned to Nanjing as a garrison minister, and actually offered to go to the border town? Isn't Daddy, he's crazy?

Zhang Zhou sighed with emotion: "Even Ling Zun understands that the future of the Ming military community in the future is in the border affairs, who can make meritorious contributions in the border affairs, will be able to stabilize the position of power in the future, and those who are far away from the border politics, don't look at the current scenery, sooner or later will still decline." In fact, Ling Zun wants you to pick up the pillars of your family, if you don't go up, he will have to go up in person."

"Isn't there still my brother?" Zhu Feng wanted to put the blame on Zhu Lin.

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "The army also talks about seniority and prestige, and it is about seniority, do you think that if you let your brother go out in the army, how many battles will you be able to establish his prestige?"

Zhu Feng's head was about to droop to his chest.

It's clear that he is a mallet, and he has never wanted to get ahead, but now he is being driven to the shelves, and now he is almost kidnapped by morality, and he has to go to the battlefield even if he doesn't go to the battlefield.

"Lu Wan will face the saint tomorrow, His Majesty may arrange for him to be the governor of the inner three passes, if you have the heart to serve the imperial court, you might as well go with him, give you a chief military officer, and bring a few generals from the Yanwutang to go together, it will be regarded as military training. That's fine, right?" Zhang Zhou asked.

Zhu Feng thought about it and couldn't help nodding.

Anyway, the three passes in the inner three passes don't seem to be the front-line battlefield now, and in terms of the distance between the three passes and the Beijing division, this march is not too hard.

Zhang Zhou said: "That's okay, the task can be completed in as little as ten days and half a month, and you can come back in one or two months." I'm waiting for you to pick up the wind and wash the dust in Beijing."

The imperial court was still operating for the defense of Gyeonggi, while in the northwest, because of Batu Munk's Kobian, men and horses were being dispatched everywhere.

April 25, night.

Thirty miles north of Shigou City, the main force led by Yang Yiqing has arrived, and the total number of infantry and horses under Yang Yiqing is only 12,000, and before they are about to arrive in Shigou City, they have already learned that Shigou City is still under the control of the Ming Dynasty, that is to say...... Although the Tatars came in this direction, they did not take the lonely city.

At night, the land of Ningxia looks lonely and desolate.

Yang Yiqing ordered the three armies to be stationed, and at the same time, he also learned of the movements of Zhu Hui's department, and the two roads of men and horses sent by Zhu Hui, each of which were led by Wu'an Hou Zheng Ying and Xiangcheng Bo Li Yan respectively, had also reached a place forty miles east of Shigou City.

The Tatars were relatively scattered, and on the same day the Tatars had already begun to gather in the direction of Shigou City.

There are more than 30,000 Tatar elite soldiers, even if they are scattered, it is enough for the three Ming people to drink a pot, but perhaps the Tatars are afraid of the firearms on the Ming side, so that the distance between the two sides is less than thirty miles, but the Tatar soldiers and horses still did not take the initiative to attack.

That night, near the time of the child.

Yang Yiqing's subordinates have basically begun to rest, and they belong to the kind of people who are waiting for the end, while Yang Yiqing is still listening to the battle reports brought by scouts from all walks of life.

The army was ready to fight at any time, and Yang Yiqing seemed very cautious, because he now knew that Zhu Hui was still one hundred and fifty miles away, and with Zhu Hui's marching speed, it would take three or four days to come, and Zhu Hui did not seem interested in this battle to encircle and annihilate the grassland wolves.

Zhu Hui's side may only be able to help him, and the only ones who are Li Yan and Zheng Ying's 4,000 soldiers and horses may be the only ones.

Inadequate.

"Lord Yang, the situation is not good now, the Tatars are approaching Shigou City from the east, and there is a gap in the northeast of Shigou City due to disrepair, if it is attacked overnight, within an hour or two, Shigou City will be taken." Guo Jun, the chief soldier of Ningxia, was describing the situation on the front line, "There are less than 300 defenders in Shigou City, and there is only one cannon in total, and the soldiers have no heart to fight."

After all, Shigou City is not in an important position in the pass, and it is only a fortress for inland defense.

The shortage of military funds in Ningxia itself in recent years also stems from the reform of the salt administration and the changes in the grain development, which has greatly reduced the land of Shangtun in various places in the northwest, and the border fortress like Shigou City, after the surrounding land is barren, the peasant households will be reduced, and they can only wait for the imperial court to allocate funds in the construction of the fortress......

Just for efficiency, I'm afraid that even if I apply for a few years, I won't be able to apply for money and food to build a fortress.

Moreover, in terms of local priority, it is natural that they will not think of building an earthen fort 200 miles away from the pass, and it is not easy to station 300 soldiers in it.

Yang Yiqing said, "Shigou City, you can give up."

Guo Jun said: "You mean, put *** into the city and aim at the target to fight?"

Even Guo Jun knows tactics, and now that Da Ming has a powerful firearm, what he is most worried about is that he can't find a target, or that the Tatars don't stop to fight with you, and if you "let" Shigou City out, let

When the Tatars entered the earthen fort, it was tantamount to having a goal.

Yang Yiqing nodded and said, "The Tatars know that Shigou City is difficult to form a dangerous defense, and the city defense is still very lax, but they are still not in a hurry to loot people, animals and goods everywhere, that is, they understand that it is impossible to use Shigou City as a basis for holding on. It's not easy for them to move to Shigou City."

What you can think of, the enemy can think of naturally.

The Tatars were good at fighting sports warfare, and when they were inferior in weapons, how could they stuff themselves into an earthen fort and be the target of the Ming artillery?

Guo Jun said: "But there is no other way now, there are not enough soldiers and horses, and we must wait for the arrival of the main force of Baoguo Gong to form a strong offensive momentum. But I'm also afraid that *** will take the initiative to attack, let's say it's okay to say here, it is said that Xiangchengbo and Wu'anhou only brought light soldiers, and even had very few artillery. If you rush into battle, you are afraid that it will be difficult to make a difference."

In the meaning of Guo Jun, our side is out of the nest.

However, the two vanguard men and horses sent by Zhu Hui were very vulnerable, and they fought with the Tatars, and there was no problem in sending cavalry, but they did not bring a few cannons...... In other words, Zhu Hui felt that artillery was his talisman, and was unwilling to hand over more artillery, especially heavy artillery, to other people.

Then it will appear, Yang Yiqing's next door obviously has 4,000 Ming cavalry as reinforcements, but it lacks the most effective weapons, so Yang Yiqing has to count on himself again.

Yang Yiqing said coldly: "The purpose of Baoguo Gong is to let the Tatars retreat in the face of difficulties, and he does not have the heart to fight to the death with the Tatars. This battle can't wait for him, tomorrow morning, this battle must begin."

"Tomorrow morning ......"

Guo Jun felt a little difficult and reminded, "Lord Yang, the number of artillery and firearms in our army is not much, and the loss in Huamachi is extremely serious. Qin Lao didn't allocate too much to us...... If you want to let us fight to the death with ***, but don't give cannons and guns, this battle is not easy to fight."

Yang Yiqing said, "No matter how short it is, it's better than the Tatars, right? Compared to two or three years ago?"

Guo Jun said: "But the Tatars have crossbowmen, they have a lot of experience in fighting with us, although they still don't know the number of firearms in our Shenji Battalion, but in fact, it is not difficult to guess, if we have enough firearms, Huamachi will not retreat after victory." If you dare to come, you must have no fear."

Yang Yiqing said sharply, "What about your courage? It's you who are fighting for your life, and now you're going to retreat?"

Guo Jun gritted his teeth and said, "Then let's gather all the firearms that can be used and raid overnight, what do you think?"

"No!" Yang Yiqing said, "If you want to fight, you must also be open, and fight in the daytime, after the whole army is assembled. The more they carry out night raids and sneak attacks, the more the Tatars will understand that our army is not capable of frontal combat, and with their caution, do you think that a night attack at such a time will be very effective?"

Guo Jun nodded helplessly.

Yang Yiqing is still very sober, it is useless to engage in opportunism at this time, so he can only fight to the death.

But the problem was that they were short of firearms on this side, and the same was true of the two vanguard men and horses on the opposite side, and the total number of soldiers and horses was less than half of that of the Tatars...... If this is against the Tatar stragglers, they can still fight, but now they are the main force of Batumunk, no matter how you look at this battle, Da Ming does not dare to say that there is an advantage.

Yang Yiqing said: "This battle is related to the prestige of the Ming Dynasty, as long as we can stabilize the first formation, drag on for two or three days, and Baoguo Gong will come if he doesn't want to come." He is also waiting for us to back down so that there will be no responsibility for him. But if we fight, he will watch the fire from the other side, and no matter whether our army wins or loses, he will have no shame to gain a foothold in the army!"