Liu Jing, Marquis of Anyuan, learned some information from the Governor's Mansion, and hurriedly went to the British Mansion to find Zhang Mao to report the news before nightfall.

For Liu Jing, his intention is very clear, that is, the former backer Zhu Hui has fallen, and now he has to rely on Zhang Mao in the army...... Although in principle, his real backer is actually the Empress Dowager Zhou, but the Empress Dowager Zhou has never been able to take care of him at all times.

「…… Old man Zhang, now things are obvious, outsiders have misunderstood you and thought you ...... There are bad intentions, so that the government and the opposition are talking about it, and even Your Majesty may have misunderstood you, and I guess you have to go to the northwest to lead the troops this time!"

Liu Jing also sighed a little.

Thirty years in Hedong and thirty years in Hexi, no matter how awesome Zhang Mao was before, Zhang Mao always had no military merits.

A lord who has no military merits, but can be in charge of the military and political affairs of the Ming Dynasty for decades, sounds embarrassing, and now there is no need to envy it, because before Zhang Mao entered the loess, he may also have to personally lead the troops to verify his strength in leading the troops.

Zhang Mao patted his thigh and said, "Others don't know me, don't you know the whole story?"

Liu Jingdao: "How can you not know below? Before, you also went to Cai Guogong's Mansion to intercede, and this matter is in the eyes of the people, but there is that kind of person, you have to do nothing."

Zhang Mao frowned and said, "Is there a misunderstanding among outsiders, and what does it have to do with whether the old man goes to the battlefield or not?"

Zhang Mao was also depressed.

If it's just a bit of a bad deed of corruption and perversion of the law, or if he is thought to be ill-intentioned, then he shouldn't be allowed to prove himself on the battlefield, right?

"This matter is not very clear below, but I heard that His Majesty named him, and also said that when the court is in the morning of the next day, he will be brought to the court to discuss, and many colleagues have recommended you to lead the troops." Liu Jing looked at Zhang Mao with blank eyes.

Although from a certain point of view, being able to go to the battlefield to lead the troops is the best way for the big husband to realize his personal ambitions.

But it was not limited to their group of pampered lords, because they knew that it was difficult to obtain military merits even if they went to war.

When the time comes, it will be too reactive.

Zhang Mao said: "It must be Zhang Bingkuan who is behind the ghost."

Zhang Mao obviously didn't want to go to the battlefield to lead the troops, all he could think of was Zhang Zhou, who seemed to be blocking Zhang Zhou's footsteps in monopolizing military power, so he thought that he was in opposition to Zhang Zhou.

Liu Jing smiled bitterly: "Old man Zhang, I think it has nothing to do with Cai Guogong, but His Majesty wants you to go, you think, Cai Guogong thinks you are on the battlefield...... Must it be that nothing has been accomplished?"

Zhang Mao said, "You don't understand!"

Liu Jing didn't reply again.

The two seem to have a philosophical disagreement.

Zhang Mao felt that Zhang Zhou was cheating on him, while Liu Jing felt that Zhang Zhou was not so idle.

It is that Liu Jing also believes that the current situation in the northwest is very favorable to the Ming Dynasty, and it is more likely to go to the northwest to lead troops to obtain military merits, because the Tatars will never love war.

How can Zhang Mao be asked to lead the troops and give Zhang Mao a chance to prove himself?

"While it's not dark yet, you go to every house to say hello, and tomorrow morning, if anyone dares to elect the old man in the court, don't blame the old man for turning his face against him!"

Zhang Mao was also in a hurry.

If you don't go to the battlefield to lead the soldiers, even if it is pie in the sky, you won't pick it up.

Whoever disagrees with him on this matter is his enemy.

Liu Jing said: "Grandpa, it's okay to say it here in the Governor's Mansion, but I'm afraid that Wenchen will ...... there."

"Go!"

Zhang Mao was also anxious.

Only then did Liu Jing arch his hand and said, "Then go down here, if you can notify it, you will definitely be notified, and if you can't be notified, you will say hello tomorrow morning." But Grandpa, you'd better be prepared."

"Father, why are you in such a hurry?"

Just when Zhang Mao was scratching his ears and cheeks in the front hall in a hurry for the possibility of leading the troops, Zhang Rui appeared in front of him.

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Mao glanced sideways at his son and said, "As a father, he may have to be tricked and sent to the northwest to lead the troops, who do you think did this?"

Zhang Rui said, "Isn't it a good thing that my son doesn't understand what his father means? It's time for the British government to prove itself."

"Humph!" Zhang Mao said, "Don't think that after a few years in the army, you can make a difference on the battlefield! Zhang Lun went to the northwest before, what was the result? It would be nice to be able to save my life."

"If my father goes to the northwest, he will also be the commander who leads the army, and others will do what he charges, but he is willing to saddle his father before and after, and even be a pioneer officer."

Zhang Rui is not as timid and afraid as Zhang Mao, but takes the initiative to ask for help.

"Don't mess around!" Zhang Mao exhaled angrily, "The British government doesn't need military merits, at least not the old man's generation, you and Zhang Lun...... It's up to yourselves! When the old man goes down to the Yellow Spring, he won't be able to take care of you anymore!"

"Father, my son thinks that if you don't want to go to the northwest to lead the troops, you can make it clear to Your Majesty, and Your Majesty will be considerate of your old age." Zhang Rui is also thinking about his father.

As soon as Zhang Mao heard the words "old and healthy", he felt very unhappy.

Zhang Mao wanted to say, I can push it, but I'm afraid that now that my reputation is stinky, if I am cowardly, then Your Majesty will have more reason to take me down, isn't that to let the political enemy succeed?

"Do you mean that the father is afraid?" Zhang Mao was still strong.

Zhang Rui said: "My father has his own prestige and ability, but at the moment, the Northwest Army General is not and is not my father's person? Even if my father goes to the northwest, I am afraid that he will not be able to dispatch those people, but he should remind His Majesty that everything should be based on the old system, and that it is the best policy for the imperial history to cooperate with the local governor to send troops."

Lead the troops with civilian officials, and you will be a fighter when you go.

In this way, you don't have to worry about taking the primary responsibility, and you can lean to the side a little when carrying the black pot.

Zhang Mao said: "The old man is in the army, but in fact, he is also in the officialdom, and the thing in the officialdom is to deceive me, I want to see who wants to make the old man collapse this time!" I think that the Father's means are enough for him to have no good fruit to eat!"

The next day, the court agreed.

Zhang Mao was aggressive and took a group of henchmen to the Fengtian Palace.

Before the court meeting began, Zhang Mao had already greeted the people from the Governor's Mansion, and he even went over to talk to Xie Qian, knocking on the side to show that he was not capable of going to the northwest to lead the troops, probably meaning to let Xie Qian not embarrass him.

Who knew that after the emperor asked Xiao Jing to announce the military situation in the northwest and indicated that he would send someone to the northwest to lead the troops, Xie Qian was the first to run out to dismantle Zhang Mao.

「…… Your Majesty, as seen by the courtiers, the British Duke was in the prime of life, and with his prestige in the army, he was enough to intimidate the Tartars into submission. The minister thought that he should lead his troops to stop the Tatar attack, and strike back at any time......

Xie Qian didn't give Zhang Mao any face in this kind of thing.

Let Zhang Mao almost stomp his feet.

It's okay not to say this, but after saying it, you'll fall into the ground, right?

Zhu Youzhu said, "British duke, what do you think?"

Zhang Mao walked out and looked very embarrassed: "The old minister also wants to go to the border town and serve the country, but recently...... Ahem, I am ill, I am afraid that I will live up to Your Majesty's expectations, and the old minister recommends Cai Guogong, with his ability, it is enough to stabilize the northwest."

At this time, Zhang Mao began to say that he was old.

Usually he still pretends to be very strong, which makes people think that he is old and strong, but now it is about his own life, even if he admits it, he thinks it is worth it.

Zhu Youzhu squinted at Zhang Mao, and said in an unkind tone: "British Duke, I don't usually see you so fragile, what's the matter, what's the disease? Do you want to send a doctor back to treat you?"

Zhang Mao said: "Your Majesty is gracious, the old minister has nothing to repay, the old minister is an old man's illness, just rest for a few more days." And the old minister thinks that he can hardly support his current errand, so he specially resigns, and hopes that His Majesty will see that the old minister once served the imperial court, so that the old minister can live for the rest of his life."

"Huh?"

The ministers present were in an uproar.

Zhang Mao pretended to be a grandson too much

Like, it makes people feel that this thing doesn't look like it's acting, but it seems that Zhang Mao is really too old to complete the things of attacking horses and riding and shooting.

Zhu Youzhu sighed and said, "If this is the case, then I really shouldn't be reluctant, shouldn't you also hand over your errand in Beijing to someone else?"

Zhang Mao wanted to "retreat as advance", but the emperor seemed to be pushing the boat with the current.

It seems that the monarch and the ministers are playing a game, but in fact, they don't give each other a face, and the emperor is more direct.

Since you Zhang Mao resigned, then I will allow you and hand over all your errands in Jingying to others, and see if you regret it at that time.

"The old minister is grateful, and the old minister thanks His Majesty Longen." Zhang Mao knelt down and kowtowed to Zhu Youji, looking very excited, as if he had gotten what he wanted.

Of course, Zhu Youzhi knew that Zhang Mao would be pretending.

The change of the commander of the Jingying lord is definitely a matter of affecting the whole body, the emperor will not change it easily, let Zhang Mao go to the northwest to lead the troops, he also wants to see Zhang Mao make a fool of himself, and then there will be a reason to pull Zhang Mao down, but now Zhang Mao is not obviously at fault, and it is still easy to cause a huge reaction in the army.

"Humph! Bingkuan, what do you think?" Zhu Youzhu immediately threw the question to Zhang Zhou.

Zhang Zhou came out under the limelight, also because everyone knows that in military affairs, don't ask Zhang Zhou and don't ask others, now the authority of the account is too high, and even those who oppose Zhang Zhou's rise have to bow down on military and political issues.

Zhang Zhou said: "Back to Your Majesty, the minister is willing to go to the northwest to lead the troops, not to bother the British Duke, look at the British Duke's body, it is indeed time to recuperate. With him sitting in the capital, I don't think the Tatars will dare to attack easily."

Zhang Mao was a little confused.

What does this mean?

I sit in the capital division, and the Tatars dare not come to attack?

Even if it is a different dog in Beijing, will the Tatars dare to come?

Are you making fun of me? Or did you deliberately keep me from coming down? But let's say it's deliberately embarrassing me...... You actually want to go to the northwest to lead the troops for me, is it really my small-bellied chicken intestines, misunderstanding you?

Zhu Youzhu said unceremoniously: "Why do I think that it is because Bingkuan is in the capital that the Tatars dare not come to attack? Ladies and gentlemen, what do you think?"

These words are slapping Zhang Mao in the face.

Zhang Mao's face was flushed.

Many of the civil servants present were snickering.

There was a conflict between Zhang Mao and Zhang Zhou, it was like a nest fight between Wu Xun, and Wenchen was happy to see the jokes.

At this time, the martial arts of the Governor's Mansion in Xiban seemed to agree with the emperor's statement...... In the past, they would think about Zhang Mao's face, but now it seems that they should think more about Zhang Zhou's face, who will let Zhang Zhou eat with Zhang Zhou in the future, instead of Zhang Mao?

Even if you Zhang Mao really have the ability, at your age, how many years do you have to live?

"Your Majesty, you have elevated the minister, and the minister does not have such ability." Zhang Zhoudao, "The minister thinks that there is still a big gap between him and the British Duke in military affairs, and the minister wants to learn more from him, if he really has the opportunity to learn from him on the battlefield, it would be great."

Zhang Mao blinked again.

What does that mean?

You want to learn from me?

Is it for me to be the coach and you to be the deputy coach? That...... It was a different story, and if that had been the case, I should have strongly opposed it, and I should have strongly agreed with it.

It's as if the credit is mine, and the fault is blamed on you...... It couldn't be more perfect.

Zhang Mao said: "Your Majesty, the old minister still thinks that Cai Guogong is the best candidate to lead the troops in the northwest this time."

"Really?" Zhu Youzhu said, "This matter, these two days are indeed going to be decided, after the court meeting, the British Duke you go to the Qianqing Palace, I have something to say to you." Is there anyone else to recommend?"

This was addressed to the ministers present.

Only two people have been nominated so far.

They are Zhang Mao recommended by Xie Qian, and Zhang Zhou recommended by Zhang Mao.

All of a sudden, it seems that Wenchen and Wuxun have their opinions, this is Zhang Mao and Zhang Zhou

The "competition" between them, or that there is nothing to fight about, depends on the attitude of the emperor.

If the emperor felt that Zhang Zhou was suitable for leading the troops, there would be no court discussion that day, and there would be no court push.

Since there is, the emperor just wants Zhang Mao to go to the northwest.

Everyone present can see this.

The court did not discuss the result.

After the court meeting, Zhu Youzhu went to the Qianqing Palace first, and after a while, Zhang Mao also followed Li Zhang into the Qianqing Palace.

Then Li Zhang stood beside the emperor, and there was no fourth person present.

"Why don't you understand my painstaking efforts?" Zhu Youzhu said in a kind and persuasive tone.

Zhang Mao knelt down and said, "The old minister is really overwhelmed."

Zhu Youzhu said, "When you ruined your reputation, you were very powerful, didn't you go out of the house recently, and didn't hear what the outside world was saying about you? Also! The authorities are fascinated, how dare others criticize you casually in front of you? Show him the news that has been sorted out recently!"

Zhu Youzhu seemed to be afraid that Zhang Mao would not know how bad his reputation was, so he immediately asked Li Zhang to show Zhang Mao the gossip compiled into a book.

Zhang Mao took the booklet and wanted to hit someone.

If you scold me, you sort it out and let me see it......

Don't hit people in the face, Your Majesty.

Do you want me to evaluate whether these words scolding me are justified? I don't even want to read a word!

"Looks like you know!" Zhu Youzhu didn't force Zhang Mao to watch it, and continued to say coldly, "Since I ascended the throne, this Beijing camp has been in your promotion, have I been ashamed of you all these years? It is also because you have been in charge for a long time, and the army has long been solidified, and I have repeatedly wanted to reform, but because of the situation, I also took care of your face, and never mentioned it openly. But now there is a lot of opinion on this!"

Zhang Mao continued to kowtow and said, "The old minister is willing to beg the old man to return to the field."

"No need! If you don't dare to do this, then how can I trust you in the future, and how can I trust the British government in the future? Zhang Qing's family, this is tailor-made for you and the family behind you, you can't live up to my hard work."