In Qingning Palace, Yongkang was waiting for the Empress Dowager Zhou to come out to see her.

But the Empress Dowager Zhou is also tired of this granddaughter, last time she said that she wanted to find trouble with Zhang Zhou, but this time she said that she wanted to find a relationship to put pressure on Zhang Zhou and let Zhang Zhou find a good errand for Cui Yuan...... Feelings, all good things are yours.

That's simply.

I haven't come out to see you yet, so I'll let you wait outside.

"Is the Empress Dowager's worship of the Buddha over?" Yongkang waited for a long time, and when he saw the eunuch Jiang Lu coming out, he hurriedly stepped forward to inquire.

Jiang Lu said apologetically: "Back to Her Royal Highness the eldest princess, the empress dowager is still worshipping the Buddha, and the slaves and maids don't dare to come forward to disturb it, so let's go back earlier." I think the Queen Mother has no time to see her today. ”

Yongkang frowned and said, "Do you want to worship the Buddha for a day?" ”

Jiang Lu smiled bitterly and did not answer.

Do you have an opinion to talk to the old lady, what are you glaring at as a subordinate who is talking to me?

Yongkang had to continue to go back and wait, just when she was impatient to wait, and even wanted to break inside, the eunuch Wei Bin, the chief eunuch of ceremonies, arrived, and he brought the emperor's words to Princess Yongkang: "...... Your Highness, you should go back earlier, Your Majesty has instructed that you will not be allowed to enter the palace without being summoned, and it is not in accordance with the rules for you to do so. ”

Yongkang said: "This palace entered the palace to ask the empress dowager for peace, is it for the law of filial piety, is it not okay?" Brother Huang, he is the most filial piety. ”

Wei Bin said: "Cui Juma has made another great contribution in Ningxia, killing 2,000 enemies, Your Highness, you shouldn't know yet, right?" ”

"What?" When Yongkang heard this, his eyes widened.

Originally, she thought that Cui Yuan's performance in Shigou City was already the limit of what her "wimpy husband" could do, so she wanted to take advantage of her husband's merits and freshness before the freshness passed, and hurriedly gave her an errand in Jingying.

As a result, the shelf life of Cui Yuanshigou City's first battle has not yet passed, and this side has gained a greater credit, which really surprised Yongkang.

Even she was wondering, is the colt so powerful?

Why didn't I feel it before? Did I insult him? Obviously, he was a colt, but he climbed me!

"Kill two thousand, then you can give a knight! This palace is going to see the imperial brother! Yongkang immediately realized that his husband's credit could even lead to a knighthood.

In an instant, her target value also rose, she just wanted to do an errand in Beijing before, but now she wants to mix a title, even if it is worse, it should be equivalent to the title of Zhang Yanling of the sister-in-law's family, and she should be an earl, right?

Wei Bin seemed to have expected Yongkang to have this reaction, and he immediately smiled and said: "Your Majesty has a message to you, saying that it is the credit of Cui Juma, everything is based on Cai Guogong's opinion, Cai Guogong thinks he can get what kind of reward, Your Majesty will adopt it, if there is no recommendation from Cai Guogong, then everything ...... I won't count them. ”

"Brother Huang, what are you doing? The title was given by the royal family, could it be that he Zhang Bingkuan gave it? ”

Yongkang became angry when he heard it.

In order to get the errand of Jingying before, the emperor gave her a problem and asked her to admit her mistakes to Zhang Zhou, and now her husband has won such a great credit, and he is still subject to Zhang Zhou?

The point is that I am the royal man, and Zhang Zhou is just a courtier of the Ming Dynasty.

When the royal brother doesn't take care of his brother-in-law, he actually takes care of an outsider? It's unreasonable!

Wei Bin shook his head and said: "Your Majesty's words, since Your Highness already knows, there is no need to bother the Empress Dowager again, Your Majesty also said that the Empress Dowager will not pay attention to this kind of thing." You should find the right person and it will work out. ”

Yongkang said: "That's to let me beg Zhang Bingkuan?" He is a courtier of the Ming Dynasty. ”

Wei Bin hurriedly said, "Who is not a courtier of the Ming Dynasty?" Cai Guogong is now in charge of the military department, and Cui Yuma's merits in this battle should at least be credited to Cai Guogong, and His Majesty uses Cai Guogong's opinion to judge the reward of meritorious soldiers, which is not wrong in itself. Therefore, Your Highness, you should observe etiquette and etiquette, and don't give Your Majesty any more problems. ”

This is to remind Yongkang, even if you are a princess, but in the eyes of the emperor, you are all courtiers, and the level of status also depends on the mood of the emperor.

On the contrary, Zhang Zhou, as the secretary of the military department, is qualified to judge the merits of meritorious soldiers in the northwest, is it wrong for the emperor to hand over the matter of rewarding meritorious deeds to Zhang Zhou?

If you don't let Yongkang have nothing to do with the relationship between the emperor's relatives and relatives, is it in line with the principle of fairness and justice?

"Then dare to ask Father-in-law Wei, if Zhang Bingkuan is making trouble for the palace, making trouble for the horses, and doesn't want to give a reward, or does he think that others owe him?" Yongkang asked sharply.

"Huh." When Wei Bin heard this, he couldn't help but smile, "Your Royal Highness the eldest princess, you may have any misunderstanding about Cai Guogong, Cai Guogong can have today's status and win the trust of His Majesty, precisely because he is not only talented, but also magnanimous, just like An Bianhou, Xinjian Bo, and even Cui Fuma, which one is not recommended by him?" ”

Yongkang said: "He relied on his own ability to excel in the assessment. ”

Wei Bin said: "Your Highness, do you know that before the assessment, Cui Juma got the lesson plan from Wang Shilang of the household department, and Wang Shilang is the teacher of Yanwutang, and Yanwutang was founded by Cai Guogong, you say...... If this is not allowed by Cai Guogong, can this lesson plan be given to Cui Juma casually? No one else is treated like this. ”

"You mean, all of this is due to Zhang Bingkuan's special care?" Yongkang frowned.

Wei Bin's words are obviously different from her previous cognition, in her opinion, Zhang Zhou has been against so many people after his rise, and there is no big difference between him and Li Guang in essence, they are all villains who have won the ambition for a while, and as the eldest princess, she is holding a golden rice bowl.

The iron-clad courtier, no matter how awesome the minister is, can he be compared to the emperor's sister like me?

Wei Bin was about to bow and leave, but he didn't forget to remind: "Your Highness, what should be said and what should not be said has also reminded you, and please don't give others any more problems." If you are sincere, you want to come to the Cai Guogong to give you the necessary help, or give the horse a marquis, maybe you can't say that the titles of the Marquis of Weining and the Marquis of Anbian were all won by the Duke of Cai, what do you say? ”

Yongkang frowned.

As the eldest princess, a noble lady on the top, now she has to lower her voice to beg Zhang Zhou?

"If I don't go, Your Majesty won't reward the horses for their meritorious deeds?" Yongkang still wants to struggle.

Wei Bin said: "Tianmu Manor or something, there will be it, but the others...... Your Highness, a moment of righteousness can't change anything. If neither you nor the colt can keep a ...... with Cai Guogong has a good relationship, so how can Your Majesty rest assured that he will hand over military affairs to Cui Juma in the future? Baoguo Gong is not effective in entering the army this time, the responsibility is not small, there are already people in the court who have participated in the impeachment, and the joints in it, you can understand it if you think about it carefully! ”

This is tantamount to explaining the emperor's intentions.

Let's not talk about the relationship between Cui Yuan and Zhang Zhou, let's just say that you, the eldest princess, have a grudge against Zhang Zhou, which means that your relationship is not good.

In the future, I want generals who can obey Zhang Zhouyan, so that I can carry out my plan to pacify the grassland, even if you are the emperor's sister, but if you and your husband and wife can't belong to Zhang Zhou, why should you ask me for a title and an official position?

Take a negative example, Zhu Hui, even if he was once a trusted general, but because he was not a member of Zhang Zhou's faction, he would be severely punished if he made a mistake this time, and even used this to rectify some old ministers in the court.

Now it is enough for me to control the military and government with Bingkuan's henchmen, and if you are not, then please step aside.

Yongkang was furious, but he still followed Wei Bin out of Qingning Palace.

She thought angrily in her heart: "Brother Huang, this is cronyism at all, I only believe in Zhang Bingkuan, so I am not afraid of being counterattacked?" Since ancient times, the rebel ministers basically started from the ministers, and the royal brother is going to play with fire and self-immolation. ”

……

……

Zhang Zhou was in the laboratory that day, and the palace sent someone to give the reward, but he didn't send it home, but directly sent it to the courtyard of the laboratory.

More than a dozen boxes were placed in half of the courtyard, so that the craftsmen inside came out to join in the fun, and at the same time, Zhu Feng and Xu Jing came to join in the fun.

"Mr. Zhang, I heard about the great victory in the northwest, you have made a lot of efforts, you can be regarded as an immortal in the world, anything can be said by you, even if Kong Ming is alive, it is not as good as you." Xu Jing didn't make a big difference, and it was rare to have the opportunity to see Zhang Zhou, and he was obviously too hard when he patted his ass.

Zhu Feng watched from the sidelines and was also envious.

But at the same time, he was also a little lost.

Because Zhu Feng remembered what his eldest brother told him, the Chengguo Mansion originally expected him Zhu Feng to stabilize his position in the court, but as a result, he Zhu Feng couldn't support the wall in the mud, and he was willing to be an idler despite guarding the unique resources, so that now the Chengguo Mansion is almost in the twilight, and it is not much better than the Baoguo Mansion.

Zhang Zhoudao: "Northwest Victory, that is the soldiers who fought bravely to kill the enemy, but there are also your exploits in developing and manufacturing firearms, so let's take out some and give them to the people in the R&D department." According to the level of R&D points, each gets some, and if there are bad points, I can use some more money. ”

There are many things that the emperor rewards that are not measured by money, or they cannot be divided.

Zhang Zhou can take out some silver on his own and send it to the people in the "R&D department" as a "bonus".

In fact, the R&D department is also responsible for manufacturing, and the department is just a head, and there are also "military merits" here, who has made progress in some aspects, or can complete some necessary errands for a long time, you can get points, and in order to get promotions and rewards, have formed detailed rules.

Zhang Zhou uses an enterprise model to manage the R&D department of Daming Firearms, although Zhu Youzhu is the boss in name, but in fact, all this is under Zhang Zhou's control.

"Thank you, Grandpa!"

A bunch of people are still very happy, which is equivalent to saying that they are naked.

Just when Zhang Zhou arranged for Liu Gui to take a few valuable boxes to calculate the value, Zhu Feng came over and reminded in a low voice: "Brother Zhang, these are all given by the emperor, I'm afraid it's not appropriate for you to distribute them like this, right?" ”

Zhang Zhoudao: "Your Majesty's meaning is to reward those who have made meritorious contributions, if I am all specialized, wouldn't it be criticized?" ”

Zhu Feng reminded: "I'm afraid that some people will say that you buy people's hearts." ”

"And I didn't buy the ministers of the court, is it true that the people who work for me will be criticized if I give them some of the things that His Majesty has given them? It's good that you can have such an awareness, but sometimes you have to be a human being. ”

Zhang Zhou said, turned back to Liu Gui and said, "Mention two hundred taels of silver." ”

"Yes." Liu Gui hurriedly led people to do things.

Zhu Feng still followed up and said, "Brother Zhang, after this battle, when will the next battle be?" ”

Zhang Zhou frowned and looked over, smiled and said, "How do you know the festival, you have the heart to go to the battlefield?" I heard that even Cui Juma can make contributions in the field, can't you hold back the excitement in your heart, rekindle your fighting spirit, and prepare to make another miraculous contribution to the Ming Dynasty? ”

Zhu Feng said with a look of annoyance: "I don't want to go, it's just ......"

Finish.

Zhang Zhou knew from listening to this half-cut that Zhu Feng was "involuntarily", even if Zhu Feng wanted to be a soft persimmon, the Chengguo Mansion would put pressure on him, and it was just Zhu Feng who seemed to be a person who was not very assertive, and he would usually do what Zhu Feng thought was entrusted by trustworthy people.

Zhang Zhou said: "Wait, there will be a chance, I said that next time we will go to the battlefield together, unless there is that kind of war that you must go to, otherwise you can continue to wait." ”

Zhu Feng said: "I'm afraid that I can wait, but my family can't wait." Recently, my family has already set a marriage for me, and I will get married soon. ”

Zhang Zhou patted him on the shoulder and said, "It's a good thing to get married, become independent early, I'm optimistic about you." ”

At first glance, Zhu Feng was still a little moved, and felt that he was deeply trusted by Zhang Zhou.

But after thinking about it again, I feel a bit nonsense, this is my first time getting married? At my age, I'm not independent? It's really ironic, and there are no dirty words.

"Sir, would you like to arrange an errand for the students?" Xu Jing didn't dare to come forward, but when he saw that Zhang Zhou and Zhu Feng were almost discussing, he leaned forward with a shy face.

Zhang Zhou said: "The iron mine in Yongping Mansion still needs someone to take care of it. Otherwise, you can go to the Ministry of Officials first to register your name and wait for the selection, or use your ability to be a magistrate around Gyeonggi, what do you think? ”

"Huh?"

Xu Jing was stunned, judging from his expression, it was obvious that he was not very happy.

Following Zhang Zhou's side, it seems that he can do great things.

But if he accepts Quan's election and goes to the local magistrate of the county, away from Zhang Zhou and the officialdom of Jingshi, it is a matter of whether there will be a chance to continue to be an official in the future, and it is nothing more than raising people to be officials.

"If you are not even satisfied with the county, I don't know how to arrange it for you." Zhang Zhou waved his hand and said, "Then you will go to the Yongping Mansion Iron Mine to support it first, and Bohu will return to Beijing in a few days." You don't have to call yourself a student in front of me, you and Bohu are equals. ”

Zhang Zhou is saying that Tang Yin is my junior brother, and you are my student, which will damage your friendship with Tang Yin.

In fact, Zhang Zhou didn't plan to stick Xu Jing to his side, as for this person's ability...... Xu Jing is just a model of gentleness, Tang Yin's many arrogant characters are still learned from Xu Jing, such a person who has no bright spots no matter how you look at it, there is also the stigma of the problem behind him, if you really want to use it, you have to pay attention to the eyes of others.

I can probably only do some hard work and practice first.

……

……

Shouning Hou Mansion.

Zhang Heling got up late in the morning and got up for breakfast near noon, but it was the servant on the side who was talking to him.

"How is the second child? Has the military merit been achieved? Zhang Heling knew that Cui Yuan had won military merits one after another, and while he was angry, he remembered that he also sent his second brother to the northwest this time.

The servant said: "Master, do you want the second master to have military merits, or not?" ”

"This ...... When you are an elder brother, you naturally want to look down on your younger brother, but at his level, it's not that I look down on him, and he won't have any more opportunities in his life. Zhang Heling hated.

The servant said with a smile on his face: "The master is right, the second master did not have military merits, and I heard that this time he will be punished for slacking off on military affairs." ”

"Hah...... Ahem. What to see? Do you think Ben Hou is laughing at the second child? ”

Zhang Heling breathed a sigh of relief.

Finally, the brothers returned to normal level and were on the same starting line.

The servant next to him looked embarrassed, and his expression seemed to say, aren't you laughing?

Zhang Heling said: "Except for the Cui family's soft rice, who else has made meritorious contributions?" Report to Lao Tzu, I see who are some of them. ”

The servant said: "Master, don't worry, this time, in addition to Cui Yuma, only the local soldiers and horses in Ningxia led by Governor Yang, as well as Xiangcheng Bo and Wu'anhou, may not be punished, and the rest may have missed this battle, and I heard that it almost caused a catastrophe." ”

"Really?" Zhang Heling said proudly, "It's good that I didn't go." ”

"I also heard that the biggest culpable this time is Baoguo Gong, it is said that his whole family is now in danger, and if it is not good, he may raid the house and ask for the crime." The servant continued to recount the gossip he had learned.

Zhang Heling sighed: "They don't understand their brother-in-law's character, even if they lose the battle, they may not be guilty of copying their families, but now they just made a small mistake, at most they will be dismissed, and it is estimated that they will make a comeback in a few years." ”

The servant was very surprised, this marquis couldn't do anything else, and he seemed to know the emperor quite well.

"That Zhang Bingkuan is awesome, let him catch up again, go and pay my respects, and I'll invite him to a banquet when I turn around." Zhang Heling said.

The servant said: "Cai Guogong may not give face, I heard that he doesn't accept anyone's banquet now, and he usually doesn't see guests." By the way, master, the eldest princess of Yongkang sent a letter to the mansion before, can you take a look? ”

Zhang Heling said: "The second child has an in-law with him, and I have nothing to do with their family, why write to me?" When a man goes on an expedition, the mother-in-law and aunt at home can't stay up, and wants Lao Tzu to knock on her door in the middle of the night? ”

"Huh?"

The servant was stunned at first, and then he thought that his master had this habit of talking.

didn't say anything more ugly, it was already considered to be a face for the eldest princess.

When Zhang Heling took the letter and read it, he frowned, threw it aside and said, "It's really rare, let Lao Tzu go to her as a lobbyist, I don't know what to say." Is Lao Tzu the kind of person who makes wedding dresses? ”

"Master, what are you talking about?" The domestic servant was illiterate, and he was eager to ask questions next to him.

Zhang Heling said: "That woman wants to reconcile with Zhang Bingkuan, saying that her man can get the title now, let me talk about it, and say that there will be heavy thanks after the matter is completed, I thank her ancestors!" Lao Tzu never helps people do things, let alone that she used to say bad things about Lao Tzu in front of her brother-in-law, and I will remember this hatred for a lifetime. ”

The servant said, "Do you need to reply?" ”

"Give her face." Zhang Heling got up, flicked his sleeves and said, "Bring the letter from the Beijing camp to Lao Tzu, Lao Tzu is going to patrol, and he will also go to Yanwutang recently." In the future, don't call it Ye, just call Lao Tzu General Zhang, and call Hou Ye if it's not worth it! Lao Tzu is a teacher in the Yanwutang, who has military merits, who dares to despise Lao Tzu? ”

"Yes, Master Hou!" The servant stammered with a shy face.

……

……

The Yamen of the Ministry of Officials.

Li Dongyang personally arrived and met with Ma Wensheng in the inner hall, and the two sat down to discuss the reward for the predetermined military exploits in the northwest, especially when it came to the promotion of meritorious soldiers.

"In this battle, Cui Yuan, the commander of the horses, performed very well, blocking the Tatars from crossing the river with fewer victories, and he can be promoted in terms of merit, but everything depends on His Majesty's intentions."

Ma Wensheng is relatively neutral on this matter.

First of all, Cui Yuan is not from Zhang Zhou's faction, but the identity of his relatives is not likable, and he only talks about military merits, Ma Wensheng feels that his thoughts are not biased.

Li Dongyang said: "I have never had a cloth cloth to govern the army before, and when I first entered the battlefield, I made miraculous achievements, do you think that Ma Butang can be promoted to the lord of the world official?" This still has a lot of impact on the order of the court. ”

Obviously, the cabinet represented by Li Dongyang does not want to promote Cui Yuan.

Ma Wensheng said with a smile: "If you compare it with Wang Bo'an, Cui Yuan's exploits are indeed nothing. ”

It's okay to give a knighthood, but if you have to worry about it, find a standard as a caliper, then take Wang Shouren out.

Wang Shouren fought several battles before and after, Wei Ninghai and Liaodongping Jurchen, and then attacked the grassland by surprise, killing more than 10,000 enemies, but he was just a new uncle.

That is to say, those who do not exceed Wang Shouren's merits in the future will not be promoted to the title.

Wang Shouren is the last of a series of people recommended by Zhang Zhou to obtain the title, and he can also be used as a "goalkeeper", taking Wang Shouren as an insurmountable standard, and only making some fuss about promotions and financial rewards in the future.

Li Dongyang said: "I heard one thing, Your Majesty handed over Cui Yuan's military merits to Zhang Bingkuan. also took Zhang Bingkuan's opinion first to decide whether he could be added to the rank of knight. ”

"Where do you know?" Ma Wensheng was curious.

This is a secret, right?

The news channels of your cabinet are all different, why haven't I heard of a single minister?

Li Dongyang was silent and did not answer.

In this way, even Ma Wensheng figured out a little taste, if the news can generally spread, then Li Dongyang has no need to cover it up, he can't say it...... That is to say, the channel is kept secret, and this is most likely news from the palace.

"Do you think that Zhang Bingkuan will look at Cui Yuan differently? In terms of talent and insight, he may not be able to compare with Wang Bo'an, and there are many people who are stronger than him in the court. In terms of bravery, Cui Yuan may not be better, and he can be described as a layman in governing the army. ”

Ma Wensheng commented on Cui Yuan, and he was also unceremoniously.

Li Dongyang said: "Didn't Brother Negative Tu think that he should be knighted? ”

"Gaining the title and gaining power, in the end, are two different things, the imperial court dares to hand over the burden of the northwest defense to such a fledgling relative? Even if His Majesty and Zhang Bingkuan have this intention, they are afraid that the military will be unconvinced, unless they ......"

"Unless what?" Li Dongyang asked.

Ma Wensheng said unceremoniously: "Unless he can have connections in the DPRK to support him." Binzhi, you know what I mean, right? ”

The implication is that as long as our traditional faction supports him, he is qualified to stand on his feet.

(End of chapter)