Daning.

Cui Yuan and Zhu Feng's men and horses marched relatively slowly, and the reversal back to Daning seriously delayed the process of marching north.

However, before the soldiers and horses arrived in Daning, they learned that the soldiers and horses of Duoyan Sanwei had retreated north in a panic.

Zhu Feng was also very depressed after learning the news, but it also made him a little glad that Zhang Zhou did not appear in Daning.

"Brother Cui, I personally led the troops to the old city of Daning in the morning to see, it was empty, the men and horses of Duoyan Sanwei had indeed been stationed in it, and there were still things left behind by their panicked retreat, and they didn't catch any tartars...... But it's a good thing that Brother Zhang isn't here, it seems that we are too careful. ”

When Zhu Feng said this, his eyes were also a little disappointed.

Cui Yuan asked, "An Bianhou, do you want Cai Guogong to be here?" ”

This also made Cui Yuan not understand, the purpose of our coming is to prevent the Tatars from arresting Zhang Zhou, and now it is determined that Zhang Zhou is not there, isn't it a good thing?

Zhu Feng sat down, and said with a little annoyance in his tone: "If Brother Zhang is here, he can guide us a thing or two, maybe the military merits will be lost." At present, our march is slow, and we even take it upon ourselves to go to the old site of Daning, and if we go north like this, we will definitely delay the time limit of the march. At the moment, it seems to be ...... It's impossible for us to gain anything. ”

Cui Yuan nodded.

He seemed to understand Zhu Feng's distress.

Cui Yuandao: "At the moment, it seems that we are indeed worried about how to deal with the imperial court after we go back." We have already caught the grass by surprise, and the Tatars cannot be defenseless, and although troops have been sent from all sides in this war, it is estimated that we can only hope that Xinbo will have a big harvest in the steppe. ”

Zhu Feng was as nervous as a child, and said, "Don't we have a chance to make a contribution?" Watch others do their work...... All in all...... Alas! ”

Seeing Zhu Feng's bitter face, Cui Yuan walked over and patted him on the shoulder and said, "Brother Zhu, don't be discouraged. There will always be a chance in the future, today we will rest first, tomorrow we will continue to go north, even if we can't kill the enemy, as long as we have to beat the majesty of the Ming Dynasty. ”

"Hmm."

Zhu Feng nodded.

He didn't have many ideas, and it seemed that he could only hope that Cui Yuan could take him to do something big.

……

……

Royal Palace, West Warm Pavilion.

Zhu Youzhu was checking the battle reports coming from everywhere, and Yang Peng, the eunuch of the Imperial Horse Prison and the Commander of the Beijing Camp, helped him analyze it.

“…… Your Majesty, who had just received a reward from the steppe, had gone hundreds of miles deep into the steppe four days earlier, but had not yet discovered the main force of the Tatars. It is as if the Tatars have disappeared from the steppes, and so far their main tribe has not been found. ”

Zhu Youzhu frowned when he heard this: "What do you mean?" The Tatars are all hiding? ”

Yang Peng said: "At present, it seems that ...... Maybe yes. ”

Zhu Youzhu was very angry when he heard this, he didn't dare to send troops before, but now he can't find the enemy after sending troops, it seems that the Tatars can not even defend their own territory, and let the soldiers and horses of the Ming Dynasty gallop on the grassland.

The time and place are favorable, and the Tatars seem to occupy it, but they just don't fight.

Zhu Youzhu said sharply: "This war started because the Tatars provoked the border affairs in Ningxia, and now they say that they have disappeared without a trace?" Is there a report in Ningxia? ”

Yang Peng didn't dare to answer anything, so he could only look sideways at Chen Kuan, the eunuch who was the master of ceremonies and the eunuch on the side.

Chen Kuan looked very cautious, and his voice was also very slight and gentle: "Your Majesty, you should pay attention to bowing your body, and it is also a good thing that the Tartars dare not fight us head-on." ”

"What's good?" Zhu Youzhu was very dissatisfied when he heard this, "We sent tens of thousands of troops, and all the soldiers and horses have gone deep into the grassland, but we haven't even seen the shadow of a tartar...... No, the British Duke found the Tartar outside the side pass, and achieved a little success. Is this the ultimate victory? ”

Chen Kuan said: "If the Tartar is to hide, the grassland is so big, and it is difficult for us to find his traces." ”

This made Zhu Youzhu very annoyed.

"Ahem, ahem, ahem......"

In a hurry, Zhu Youzhu coughed violently.

"Your Majesty, do you want to find a doctor to consult you?" Chen Kuan asked.

Zhu Youzhu raised his hand and refused: "I'm fine, I'll find someone to see when I go back." Those Imperial Doctors...... Forget it. ”

Yang Peng said: "Your Majesty, Xinjian Bo is on the grassland, and he is also trying his best to find the location of the Tatars, if everything goes well, or there will be victory in a few days." ”

"This kind of uncertainty is still less in the premise of the face." Zhu Youzhu said sharply, "What I want is the result!" Now that there is no one saying that they have encountered the main force of the Tatars, can the Tatars disappear from the steppe out of thin air? ”

Chen Kuan tried to analyze: "Your Majesty, do you think this is the case, the Tartars know that my Ming soldiers are strong, and they deliberately avoid our edge, and deliberately avoid the war?" They are familiar with the terrain and can naturally migrate to the west or north and then south after the spring of the following year...... In the past, the grassland was divided into Mo Nan and Mo Bei, could they have migrated to Mo Bei? ”

Zhu Youzhu said: "Are you talking to me?" When do you think the Tatars don't even want their pastures, cattle and sheep, and just move north? The further north they go, the more bitter cold the climate becomes, do they want to kill themselves? ”

Yang Peng heard the meaning of the emperor's words, hurriedly climbed up the pole, and said: "Your Majesty, the slave maid also thinks that the Tartar must be hiding somewhere, or avoiding the war, or it may be waiting for an opportunity. The most important thing now is to find out where they are hiding. ”

"Ahem, ahem, ahem......"

Zhu Youzhi just continued to cough.

Yang Peng continued: "This kind of anticipation of the enemy's opportunity seems to be something that only Cai Guogong can do. ”

"Yes, and Bingkuan." Zhu Youzhu also seemed to grasp a life-saving straw, and said eagerly, "Send someone to ask." Let Bingkuan come to the staff officer...... I want results! As long as the Tatars can be dealt a heavy blow, even if the war is extended for a few more days, it will not hurt. But that's it...... cough cough cough ......"

"Your Majesty, take care of the dragon." Chen Kuan looked distressed.

Zhu Youzhu said: "Send me a bowl of hot tea." Hot milk tea is also fine...... In the past two days, I will not go to court first, and then I will tell me if I have something. I still need to recuperate. ”

"Yes."

Chen Kuan hurriedly went over to help Zhu Youzhu get up.

Zhu Youzhu was about to go to the inner hall, but he didn't forget to remind: "Hurry up and tell Bingkuan, let Bingkuan find out the Tatars." This battle cannot be delayed. ”

……

……

Santun camp.

At night, Zhang Zhou continued to deal with the official documents at hand in the courtyard.

As the secretary of the military department, he is not indifferent, but the emperor allows him not to be in the yamen, many things, especially when there is a war in the frontier, he will be very busy as the secretary of the military department, and he has to spare a lot of time to complete the official affairs of the imperial court first.

He didn't care about red tape, he just wanted to make a summary of the grain and grass that should be transferred, the soldiers and horses that should be transferred, and the needs of various places.

In many cases, the allocation of money and grain does not need to be posted from the household department, and it is enough to transfer money and grain directly from the inner government, and the emperor is now very rich, and he also benefited from the more than one million taels of silver obtained from going to sea before.

"After the winter of this year, the price of grain in the north has also risen a lot."

Zhang Zhou's tone was a little emotional.

Only Wang Mingshan could talk to him, but Wang Mingshan didn't seem to care about this.

When Wang Mingshan was doing some service writing and ink next to her, her mind was also simple, basically what Zhang Zhou needed her to do, just greet her a little, with Wang Mingshan's obedience to Zhang Zhou, don't say that she is opposed, there is no resistance in her heart, and she is even very happy.

It's like a no-brainer.

"Ming Shan, your father has followed Wang Shouren into the hinterland of the grassland, and has not yet encountered the main force of the Tatars, in my estimation, the Tatars this time are deliberately waiting for us to withdraw our troops before attacking and disturbing, but they will never accept the frontal battle."

"Hmm."

"If you were asked to lead the troops, where would you want to get them?"

Wang Mingshan looked up at Zhang Zhou, and then naturally shook his head.

Zhang Zhoudao: "It's a pity that you, as a daughter, are not qualified to lead troops and kill the enemy in the field, if one day you are really by my side and let you be a pioneer...... Never mind. You are the mother of my child, and I can take the risk alone. ”

Wang Mingshan hurriedly said: "I can fight." ”

It seems that for Wang Mingshan, the family's mission is to obtain the title by force, even if she is a daughter, she has no intention of avoiding it.

"Bang bang bang......" There was a knock at the door.

Then Sun Shangqi's voice came: "Grandpa, the imperial court has sent someone to pass the word." ”

"Hmm. In. ”

Zhang Zhou asked Wang Mingshan to stand on the side, while he continued to deal with the official documents in his hand.

Sun Shangqi walked in, stood behind the screen, and said respectfully: "Grandpa, the imperial court sent an envoy to say that he wanted to transfer some war information from all over the world. Your Majesty would also like to ask where the Tatars are hiding, and I want you to do the math. ”

Zhang Zhoudao: "People's hearts are unpredictable. ”

Sun Shangqi said: "The messenger is still waiting for your reply. ”

The implication couldn't be more obvious.

Now the emperor handed over everything to Zhang Zhou about the war, and even believed that Zhang Zhou could still calculate the specific location of the Tatars, and Zhang Zhou needed to calculate it.

The relationship between monarchs and ministers, although it seems to be harmonious, will also bring many bad results...... At this time, it was actually difficult for Zhang Zhou to distinguish whether he was doing things for the Ming court or being an adviser to the emperor alone.

As a courtier, but in fact, he is more of a staff member of the emperor.

From a historical point of view, isn't this the power minister and the minister?

"Let me think about it again, you do your thing first." Zhang Zhoudao.

"Yes." Sun Shangqi was ordered to withdraw.

When only Zhang Zhou and Wang Mingshan were left in the room, Zhang Zhou sighed slightly: "It seems that His Majesty's expectations for me are too deep." ”

Wang Mingshan had some incomprehension in her eyes, she didn't understand why Zhang Zhou said this.

Zhang Zhou asked her to sit back beside her, it seemed that only when Zhang Zhou looked at Wang Mingshan's simple eyes, her heart could not be so utilitarian.

"Maybe it's just a matter of luck now, but luck doesn't have to be on my side every time. If I can only strengthen my position by winning the field, it seems that the only way to do this is to bring forward the date of the decisive battle. ”

……

……

Early morning.

The ministers all performed their duties and went to their respective yamen early in the morning, also because they knew that the emperor would continue to drop out of the court.

As for whether the emperor is pretending to be sick or not, it doesn't seem to matter to them anymore.

Early this morning, the imperial doctor Liu Wentai went over to see Zhu Youji, and when he came out, Zhu Youzhu was still sleeping peacefully, and Chen Kuan hurriedly stepped forward to inquire about the situation.

Liu Wentai shook his head and said, "Looking at the symptoms, it's just a cold, or a little heavy." ”

"Is it cold? It's okay, it's okay. Chen Kuan was finally relieved.

Liu Wentai said: "The three imperial doctors have already treated His Majesty, and they have also consulted the classics, so they are not wrong. What can be done now is to let His Majesty gradually improve his condition, or should he not be tired, sometimes he has heart disease...... Gonggong Chen, let me ask you next, has Your Majesty been worried about anything recently? ”

When you become a doctor, you naturally have to be "perfect" prepared.

In case the emperor's condition really deteriorated, it would be said that the emperor was worried about it.

Chen Kuan sighed: "The matter of the military situation makes Your Majesty worried, and Cai Guogong is not in Beijing now." If Cai Guogong is here, His Majesty may be able to feel much more at ease. ”

Liu Wentai asked, "Then why don't you hurry up and summon Cai Guogong back to Beijing?" ”

"This ......"

Chen Kuan suddenly glanced at Liu Wentai, and that look was not kind.

Probably questioning, don't be ashamed to give you a face.

What arrangements does the emperor have, and he still has to listen to your arrangement?

Liu Wentai also seemed to realize that he had lost his words, lowered his head and said: "After I go back next time, I will continue to discuss the treatment plan with the envoy of the royal court, but I am afraid that Your Majesty's side will ......."

Chen Kuan understood what Liu Wentai meant.

In the past two years, the main figures in the court have been sick, and the emperor has chosen to adopt Zhang Zhou's opinions, even if Zhang Zhou is not there, he will find the doctor Ning Tong, and the presence of the hospital in the past two years has been very low.

"Hurry up and discuss, if it's just a cold, can't you be treated by the hospital? Use mild medicine, and remember, Your Majesty's dragon body can't stand the toss. Chen Kuan said.

"Yes, yes."

……

……

Chen Kuan saw Liu Wentai, and then went to Kunning Palace to report the emperor's illness to Empress Zhang.

When Empress Zhang learned that her husband's illness was just a cold and seemed to be fine, she also breathed a sigh of relief and said, "It's okay, otherwise I can only let Bingkuan come back." ”

Chen Kuan felt very awkward.

Even Queen Zhang, who used to have a lot of opinions about Zhang Zhou, now regards Zhang Zhou as her own, which is very strange.

Could it be that the emperor's concubine has nothing to do with the operation behind Zhang Zhou?

Chen Kuan said: "Your Majesty's spirit in the past two days is fine, but the taste is only a little bland, and the amount of food is slightly reduced. Every day His Majesty will also use some tonic medicine......"

Empress Zhang said: "This palace has heard criticism, saying that it is His Majesty's wind cold, but it is due to too heavy moisture, and it is said that the heating method used in the Xinuan Pavilion is different from the ordinary. His Majesty was already weak and seemed to be unable to withstand the fumigation of water vapor. ”

Chen Kuan was stunned.

He seemed to be a little relieved in his heart, and sure enough, the queen was still secretly competing with Zhang Zhou.

Otherwise, why could the emperor's illness be blamed on the heating invented by Zhang Zhou?

Chen Kuan said: "The slave doesn't understand. ”

Empress Zhang sighed: "But the palace is also arranged here, it seems to be fine." Maybe one person has one physique. If anyone chews the root of their tongue again, let people check it out. His Majesty is sick, and he can't hear these things. In your daily official duties, you should pay more attention...... This palace doesn't understand court affairs, and it depends on you. (End of chapter)