Beizhen Fusi, inside the edict prison.

Zhu Hui, the Duke of Baoguo, was escorted to Beijing and detained in the Imperial Prison, and the Zhu family also moved around through various relationships, and finally had the opportunity to let Zhu Hui's eldest son Zhu Qi go to the cell to visit his father.

"It's all my father's fault, if I had been more resolute in sending troops for my father, I wouldn't have ended up today. Zhang Bingkuan hurt me! ”

Zhu Hui seems to have realized where his mistake is, and through these days of pondering, he has found the crux of the problem, that is, the rise of Zhang Zhou.

If it weren't for Zhang Zhou, the emperor would continue to trust their group of people, why would he, the commander who "won the battle", be sent to the edict prison without even a person to speak for him?

"Is everything okay?" Zhu Hui asked.

Zhu Qi lowered his head, not knowing how to deal with this father, Zhu Qi himself is nearly forty years old, he is already half a little old man, and the family has suffered accidents, which also makes him look a little more vicissitudes.

"My father has expected everything for a long time, so what do you have to hide? Say! Zhu Hui is still imposing in front of his son.

Zhu Qi said: "The family is very bad, at first, Tianlin and Tianxiang were all sent to prison, the family property was confiscated, and even the sister who married was implicated, but fortunately, the relationship was dredged up later, and I didn't care about the crimes of us for the time being, but now I rely on the help of some old bureaucrats to barely get by." ”

Zhu Hui frowned and said, "Then where are you staying now?" ”

Zhu Qi was a little reluctant to say, and under Zhu Hui's repeated questions, he said: "I found a place outside the city to settle down, and the slaves at home have basically been filled as officials, and there is no place to stay in the city." Officers and soldiers also came to extort money one after another, especially Jinyiwei, every time they came, they had to pawn and borrow money from their families to deal with it, otherwise...... The consequences are unimaginable. ”

"Bastard!"

Zhu Hui was unkempt, and there were still a few straws on his head, but he was still furious, "Those bastard turtle sons, Lao Tzu gave them a lot of benefits at the beginning, why do you want to treat me like this?" Now it's just for me, and it's all about blackmailing my family? Didn't you find someone to report it? ”

Zhu Qi said: "It's useless. Your Majesty has decreed that it will be strictly investigated, plus you, father...... There were so many people who might have offended before that no one was willing to help talk now. ”

Zhu Hui was stunned for a moment.

He has been waiting for someone in the court to speak up for him, showing that he also has the merit of scheduling in this battle, and the victory on the battlefield is at least the result of him containing and paralyzing the enemy.

After the good news, there is not even a person to speak for the coach?

In Zhu Hui's opinion, is there any reason for this?

But this is the status quo of the imperial court...... Wuxun himself is not treated well by Wenchen, and Zhu Hui seems to be in opposition to Zhang Zhou to have today's result, the so-called enemy of the enemy is also a friend, and Wenchen should speak for Zhu Hui.

The problem is that Zhu Hui himself didn't say how close he was to Wenchen, and his performance in this battle was indeed a big surprise, which made Zhu Hui a loner in the court, and everyone was afraid to avoid him.

Zhang Bingkuan...... Cai Guogong's side, he should move around more. I sent a message back to Jingshi before, asking you to give gifts, didn't you send them? Only then did Zhu Hui think that the only person who could save himself now was Zhang Zhou.

Even if he resents Zhang Zhou in his heart, when his life is hanging by a thread, he should still turn to the most powerful minister in front of the emperor.

Zhu Qi said helplessly: "I have already gone to give gifts, and I have even seen Cai Guogong in person, but he may have learned some words from His Majesty in advance, and did not accept gifts, and in the subsequent raids and other matters, Cai Guogong also came forward in person, it seems that His Majesty wants to take it as the leader, our family ...... may have been framed by Cai Guogong. ”

"Be cautious, Wu'er!"

Zhu Hui was in Jinyiwei's edict prison, and he was not afraid to scold Jinyiwei for being ungrateful, but he didn't dare to say bad things about Zhang Zhou casually.

Just because Zhu Hui knew that scolding Jinyiwei for a few words would be targeted and hostile by Jinyiwei at most, but if his words about attacking Zhang Zhou fell into the ears of the emperor, then he would not be far from death.

"And recently, Cai Guogong is not in Beijing, I thought he was going to Jizhen to lead the troops, but I heard that he went to open a mine, and the people of the factory guard targeted the official eunuch family in the local area, and there were six or seven families that were confiscated because of the contradictions in Yongping Mansion alone, which made everyone in the local area endanger themselves." Zhu Qi told his father what he had learned.

I also want Zhu Hui to help you take a closer look.

Zhu Hui said: "He is not in Beijing? Is there something Your Majesty has to do that makes it inconvenient for him to come forward? ”

"Father, you mean ......"

Zhu Qi knows that although this old father has always been an old oilman in governing the army and has no potential as a famous general, he is not low in political consciousness.

Especially now that Zhu Hui is still in prison, when Zhang Zhou's every move is related to his Zhu Hui's life, Zhu Hui's political consciousness is also very high.

Zhu Hui sighed: "It's just a guess for my father, Your Majesty relies on Cai Guogong so much, just for a mine, but it won't let him go to Yongping Mansion, or if there are any major matters such as purging and reform in the capital, Your Majesty wants Cai Guogong to avoid it first?" When the grassland war broke out before, he also went to Nanjing, and after the war was settled, he returned to Beijing. It's not that coincidental. ”

Zhu Qi nodded and said, "It is possible to be said by my father." Now that His Majesty has sent an order to the border towns, asking them to send troops to inspect all parts of the steppe, trying to force the Tatars to retreat in the direction of the desert, do you think it has anything to do with this, father? ”

Zhu Hui shook his head and said: "At the beginning of the battle of the grassland, Zhang Bingkuan avoided it, that was because he was not a secretary of the military department, and now he is a scholar, if it is just for the war, how can he avoid it?" Didn't Your Majesty use a knife against the senior members of the DPRK and China recently? ”

"I didn't ...... I haven't heard of it. Zhu Qi thought about it seriously.

Although the Zhu family is in trouble now, there are still many news channels, and the point is that the Zhu family is now supported by this news channel.

Zhu Hui said with a sad face: "If this is the case, this knife will not fall on the neck of the father, right?" ”

"Father, you'd better look away." This time, Zhu Qi did not believe his father's judgment.

Obviously, Zhu Hui is now a turtle in distress, and he can't even stick his head out, who gave your father the courage to think that His Majesty used a knife against you, and you still need to let Zhang Bingkuan avoid it?

"It's hard to say. In this way, for the sake of the Father, it depends on whether you can move or not. Zhu Hui said, "I heard that although Zhang Bingkuan seems to be upright, he is also greedy for money and lustful, he is greedy for money for His Majesty, and now we can't give it, so we can only start with another item." ”

Zhu Qi said: "But father, our family doesn't have much ability now, so let's do something else." ”

Zhu Hui exhaled angrily: "Don't you still have two daughters?" And your two sisters......"

"Father!" Zhu Qi was not happy when he heard it, this is to make my Zhu family completely become the laughing stock of the court. He hurriedly argued, "My sister has married into the Xu family, and my little sister is arrogant, so it is impossible to be willing to be treated as a concubine." ”

Zhu Hui had two daughters, the eldest daughter married Yongkang Hou Xu Qi, but within two years, this daughter died.

And then the second daughter...... He continued Xu Qi and filled the house.

This is also very common in the Ming Dynasty, where the wife died and the house was filled with a sister-in-law...... But most of them come from ordinary people, mainly because of complicated things such as resignation, and it is not common for large households to do so.

"As a father's own daughter, you can marry as much as you want, isn't the family matter more important? Didn't the Xu family dislike us for marrying our daughter and causing them to suffer? But this marriage doesn't have to be maintained! The Zhu family doesn't need to look at other people's faces! Especially the in-laws! ”

Zhu Hui also knew from his son that he was in trouble, and even his daughter who married into the Yongkang Hou Mansion was involved, and the Xu family was about to drive people out.

That's why Zhu Hui felt that his daughter should make a little sacrifice for the family.

In order to protect himself, Zhu Hui also did everything.

"Then I went to meet Xie Ge Lao, I heard that he had a chivalrous heart, and I also went to tell him, and said that my father learned that His Majesty wanted to take advantage of Zhang Bingkuan's departure from Beijing to do a rectification in the court, which was regarded as giving him a message in advance, in exchange for letting him speak for us." Zhu Hui said.

Zhu Qi said: "Father, just such news, it is difficult for Xie Ge Lao to help. ”

Zhu Hui said coldly: "How do you know if you don't try it?" When his father was in the government and the opposition, the interpersonal relationship was also good, and he clearly said to the surnamed Xie that if he didn't help, it was hard to guarantee that there would be people who would use their group of people as backers in the future. When people have an accident, they don't help, and they still expect others to count on them? ”

Zhu Qi asked: "Then father, is he here to stammer, or is he going to threaten?" ”

"Adapt!" Zhu Hui said, "Remember not to always think about being a father and use the silver where it should be used, but you must remember to tie up Cai Guogong." He may be the last hope of my Zhu family! It doesn't matter if it's my father's life, the title ...... That's what your grandfather bought with his life, and lost it for his father...... There is no shame to face under the nine springs! ”

……

……

Imperial Palace, inside Kunning Palace.

In front of the table, Zhu Youzhu sat on one side, Empress Zhang sat on the other side, and Concubine Xian sat on the side.

It was something he hadn't felt before, a manly pride.

Xiao Jing stood aside, smiled and displayed a list in front of Zhu Youji, and said: "Your Majesty, this is the list of tributes from Duoyan Wei, and there are also Duoyan Weizuo Governor A'er begging to bring his two sons, as well as many leaders, who have decided to submit to the Ming Dynasty and accept the placement of the Ming Dynasty, all of which are modeled on the etiquette of the fire sieve to return to obedience." ”

Zhu Youzhi looked smug and said with a smile: "Very good." This army has just set out, and before the border troops everywhere have made many moves, Duoyanwei has already surrendered, and it seems that the battle of the past two years has not been fought in vain. ”

Xiao Jing said: "This is still Your Majesty, your emperor's grace. There is also Cai Guogong strategizing from the side. ”

Zhu Youzhu looked at Empress Zhang and said: "Queen, you see, Duoyan has descended, they used to be entrenched in the grassland, both to the Ming Dynasty, but in fact, they are a group of robbers, mainly the little prince of the grassland Tatars, and now they are impressed by the military power of the Ming Dynasty, and they will migrate to the border of the Ming Dynasty in the future, some of them will graze, and some will directly let them farm, which is the best." ”

Empress Zhang didn't seem to be interested in this, but put down a piece of silk in her hand and said, "Then Your Majesty, they are obedient, will they not have to fight in the future?" ”

"It's too early to say that." Zhu Youzhu said, "Duoyan has been subdued before, and they are not a threat in the first place, speaking of which, in addition to Bingkuan's credit, Liu Yu, the governor of Jizhen, sent troops in time, and he can form a deterrent, and he should also be able to take credit." ”

Xiao Jing didn't know how to describe this for a while.

Duoyan Wei returned to obedience, but it happened to be his meeting, and he met Liu Yu sending troops to the direction of Daning's ancient city, who knew that Liu Yu would pick up a big bargain?

"Decree a reward." Zhu Youzhu said, "I feel more and more that since Bingkuan is willing to go to meet this Liu Yu before going to find the ore vein, he must have a certain ability, and such a talent should also be taken seriously." ”

Xiao Jing said: "What Your Majesty said is extremely true, this Governor Liu must be capable, but everything is not yet accurate, and Cai Guogong has not recommended this person before. ”

"Oh, Bingkuan hasn't recommended it yet...... There are so many capable people around Bingkuan, it is also appropriate to go to inspect Liu Yu, say hello to the officials, if this person can continue to make meritorious contributions, he can be transferred back to Beijing as appropriate when he returns, and he will be entrusted with important tasks. ”

At this time, Zhu Youzhu seemed to be a little overly obsessed with Liu Yu's ability.

Xiao Jing reminded: "Your Majesty, even Yang Yiqing, the governor of Ningxia who made meritorious contributions, has not yet been qualified to return to the court to entrust him with important tasks. ”

Zhu Youzhu said: "This is different, although Yang Yiqing was recommended by Bingkuan, he is arrogant and rude, and he may not be willing to be used by Bingkuan." But this Liu Yu is different, from the news that came back before, in terms of his courtesy to Bingkuan, it can be seen that he is willing to only look forward to Bingkuan, and only such people are more suitable to assist Bingkuan in governing the army and using troops. ”

Empress Zhang reminded: "Your Majesty, the two younger brothers of the concubine are also willing to serve the imperial court. ”

"Haha." Zhu Youzhu smiled and said, "I have already thought about it, didn't I have asked people to give Trillium a credit before?" Yanling is in Ningxia, although he has not actually achieved great credit, but it is said that he dares to take the lead, and his courage is commendable, although there is still a gap between him and Cui Yuan, but the gap will be smaller and smaller. ”

Empress Zhang was very unhappy when she heard this, as if she pouted slightly: "I don't believe that a colt really has so much ability, or Cai Guogong gave him a chance." ”

"Oh, queen, don't worry about such a trivial matter, Bingkuan will treat everyone equally, next time he will definitely let him plan for Heling and Trillium, so that they can make contributions and show the prestige of the Zhang family. In this way, pass on my will, let Yanling cooperate with Yang Yiqing in Liaodong to fight, as long as he can return triumphantly, I can crown him as the Marquis of Jianchang! ”

"By the way, tell Bingkuan, let Bingkuan write to him and give him some advice, don't say that I won't give him a chance."

……

……

The news of Duoyanwei's return soon spread in the DPRK.

Although Duo Yan Wei is not a big threat to the Ming Dynasty, it has always been a major hidden danger in Liaodong, and this time Duo Yan Wei's submission happened to be at the same time as the emperor's transfer of troops from the nine sides to patrol the border, so it would seem that all this was the result of the emperor's good scheduling.

See.

I made a big deal and let the troops be sent to scare the group of Tartars, but some of the Tartars surrendered directly without being frightened!

How wise and powerful am I?

So when Wenchen heard the news, in fact, many people were not happy for the imperial court, because for the Wenchen in the middle of the Ming Dynasty, the idea they have been implementing is to suppress the expansion of imperial power.

“…… Duoyan Wei Dudu and others will arrive in Beijing in ten days, taking the Jizhen road, if everything is according to the plan, then from Jizhen to Daning, a few hundred miles to the north, there will be no signs of Tatar activities. The pressure on Liaodong will be relieved by many ......"

At Li Dongyang's house, Ma Wensheng explained the news he learned to Li Dongyang in detail.

Li Dongyang asked: "Zhang Bingkuan is in Yongping, what is the movement?" ”

In other words, how much does Zhang Bingkuan have to do with this matter?

Ma Wensheng shook his head and said: "The incident happened suddenly, and the news came incomprehensibly, it stands to reason that the Tatars can move north, but it is not to the point where they have to move to the point of surrendering, and the battle of the Ming Dynasty will not be drastic, there is really no reason." ”

Even Ma Wensheng would feel that Duo Yanwei was a little guilty.

The grassland is so big, Daming is just an activity in the frontier, nominally patrolling the border, but in fact, it is to go in and walk around, showing the emperor's majesty.

And so you guys were really scared...... also took the initiative to vote, you said that you Duoyanwei didn't even want the ancestral family business, so willing to be the eagle dog of the rest of the Tatar tribes for Daming, right?

Li Dongyang said: "In the past few years, there have indeed been many things in the frontier, which are different from the past. ”

Ma Wensheng asked with a smile: "It can be regarded as Zhang Bingkuan's contribution." Is it more merit or more excess? ”

Li Dongyang is not easy to answer this question.

If any normal person answers this question, he will feel that Zhang Zhou's merits outweigh his faults, or that Zhang Zhou has no faults, only credit.

But from Wenchen's point of view, there is no reason to highlight the prestige of political opponents.

Ma Wensheng said: "Binzhi, you didn't look down on Liu Yu before, this time Liu Yu sent troops to Daning, but it became the last straw that crushed the defense line of Duoyanwei, Your Majesty has issued an order to commend, I heard that the reward is greater than Yang Yiqing, who previously supervised the military affairs of Ningxia." And Liu Yu had more qualifications in the past, if he entered the court, most of them would start as an official. ”

This is a reminder to Li Dongyang.

Whether you look down on Liu Yu or not, or you think this person is shit luck, but at least he is approved by the emperor.

Although Liu Yu and Yang Yiqing are both Chenghua eight-year jinshi, but the two are in different circumstances, Liu Yu's career is obviously much smoother than Yang Yiqing, and from the evaluation of the ministry, Yang Yiqing was not as good as Liu Yu's political achievements in the past, and Liu Yu's official experience is also richer than Yang Yiqing.

The result is.

Liu Yu entered the court as a waiter, which was a regular process, and Yang Yiqing could only continue to work hard in the border town and continue to look for opportunities. (End of chapter)