weaving

Chapter 1260 Big News

New Town Collection.

The main tent of the central army headquarters of Zhang Cheng, the Earl of Yongning.

There is a guard post every ten steps and a sentry every five steps. The security is so strict that even birds cannot get in.

Outside the tent door, Zhang Mingyuan, the adopted son of Earl Yongning, stood guard in full armor. He has now replaced Zhang Chengfang as Earl Yongning's military commander.

Now, even he was not allowed to stay in the big tent to serve, but was guarding outside the door of the big tent, not allowing anyone to approach within five steps. This shows the confidentiality of the matters being discussed in the big tent.

…………

Inside the central military tent of the Yongning Marquis’ headquarters.

"Lord Yongning, there is something I don't know."

The smile on the face of Zhang Ruoqi, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War of the Ming Dynasty, had quietly faded away. He replaced it with a very cautious look and continued in a low voice: "Brother, I am here on orders to come here to ask for a sincere word from you, Earl of Yongning."

Zhang Cheng was slightly stunned when he heard this, and pretended to be confused, saying: "Brother, why do you say that? Between you and me, every word is from our heart!"

Zhang Ruoqi smiled bitterly in his heart and thought to himself, "Why do I have to take on such an errand?"

But no matter how bitter he felt, he still had to do his job. He picked up the wine cup on the table in front of him, drank it all in one gulp, and said softly, "Now that things have come to this, I won't hide anything anymore."

Zhang Ruoqi focused his full attention on the Earl of Yongning, and said softly, "Zhongchen, just tell me if the court 'negotiates with me', would you support or oppose it?"

Zhang Cheng was not in a hurry to answer. He stared at Zhang Ruoqi with the same eyes, slowly picked up the wine cup in front of him, put it to his lips, took a sip, and then put it back...

Zhang Ruoqi did not have such determination. Seeing that Earl Yongning remained silent for a long time, he asked anxiously, "Zhongchen, 'negotiating with me' is not something you and I can do. The reason why I asked this question today is because I received the advice of this soldier. Earl Yongning, please tell me what is in your heart."

He continued with hope in his eyes, "Whether you support or oppose, just say one word and I will return to the capital to report."

"Brother, I just want to ask one question, is this my intention or is it from above..." Yongning Earl Zhang Cheng said as he pointed his finger upwards.

Zhang Ruoqi knew that if he didn't get out of this completely, it would be hard to get Zhang Cheng's true feelings, so he nodded heavily and said, "I am also following the order from above."

“Who is involved?”

"This matter was handled by me alone. Doctor Ma Shaoyu has already gone to Liaodong to discuss the specific details with the Jiannu. Apart from me and Doctor Ma, I am the only one who knows about this matter."

Zhang Ruoqi finally said mysteriously: "Among the foreign officials, only the Earl of Yongning knew about this."

When Earl Yongning heard this, he immediately understood that it was the Minister of War Chen Xinjia who came to test his background.

However, on the surface, Zhang Cheng was, after all, a man of the Minister of War Chen Xinjia. Even though he was now granted the title of "Marquis of Yongning", his rank was much higher than Chen Xinjia's. And as the "General Zhenshuo", his actual power was beyond Chen Xinjia's control.

However, the stigma of his origin cannot be removed. No matter how successful Zhang Cheng becomes in the future, the court officials will still think that he is from Chen Xinjia's lineage. After all, it was Chen Xinjia who cultivated and promoted him all the way.

"My intention is the same as my attitude."

Zhang Cheng's words sounded very passionate, but Zhang Ruoqi felt that they were not reassuring enough, so he tried to test him again: "What do you think about the pros and cons of the 'negotiation'?" Zhang Cheng smiled, picked up the wine cup calmly, raised it and drank it with Zhang Ruoqi, then said: "The country is weak now, and it is difficult to support a war on both sides. In this case, it is better to give up some money, food and land to make one side peaceful, so that we can work together to suppress the bandits."

"In this way, the provinces in the interior can be stabilized. After three to five years, the people's strength will be restored, and the tax revenue will be stabilized. Then, we can mobilize troops and train new troops, and send them to the battlefield continuously. There is no need to worry about foreign threats and the revival of the Ming Dynasty!"

After hearing this, Zhang Ruoqi smiled and said, "So... Earl Yongning supports 'eliminate internal troubles first, then eliminate external threats'."

"certainly……"

Having said that, Zhang Cheng no longer had any reservations and continued, "Both internal and external troubles exist, and the imperial court is unable to suppress them together. If we have to choose between the two, we will naturally 'suppress the internal troubles first, then the external troubles'."

"Now that the Jian Nu has become powerful, it is difficult to resist them without the whole country's strength. The Chuang Cao and other bandits are causing chaos inside. Whether it is the mobilization of troops or the transportation of food and grass, they are all hindered. If we don't completely wipe them out, how can we talk about fighting against foreign enemies with all our strength?"

"The intention of the Earl of Yongning is very much in line with that of the present emperor and me. But the officials of the court said that negotiating with me is an act of betrayal... Alas!"

Zhang Cheng looked at Zhang Ruoqi in front of him and said very seriously: "This matter is not something that can be decided by the two of us, nor can it be accomplished by our own strength. The root of this success, in the final analysis, is still above..."

Zhang Ruoqi shook his head. He had not heard Emperor Chongzhen talk about the negotiation in person. Everything was conveyed to him by the Minister of War Chen Xinjia. But in his heart he believed that this was not the idea of ​​Chen Xinjia alone.

However, after listening to what Zhang Cheng said and looking at the finger he pointed upwards, a trace of doubt also arose in my heart...

"Lord Yongning, what do you think about this matter?"

After a moment of hesitation, Zhang Cheng said calmly, "Please tell me, 'forming a clique does not necessarily mean you are motivated by personal gain'!"

"Cliques don't necessarily have to be for personal gain?"

"The emperor is against forming factions. He is against forming factions for personal gain and against forming factions to disobey orders."

Zhang Cheng narrowed his eyes, looked at Zhang Ruoqi and said softly: "But I don't form a clique. Although I am favored by the emperor, he has put all the civil and military officials in the court against me. Once something happens, how many people will speak up for me?"

"I think that if necessary, the matter of 'negotiating the price' can be discussed openly by all the civil and military officials in the court. Everyone can argue and quarrel with each other, and only in this way can the matter be accomplished."

"No..."

Zhang Ruoqi was filled with fear and said hastily, "No... Absolutely not!"

"If you don't argue, you won't know who is your enemy and who is your potential ally."

"No, this matter can only be known to you, me, and me. You must not let anyone else know about this matter."

Zhang Ruoqi's face was filled with fear and he stressed, "If this matter gets out, you and I will both be beheaded and have our property confiscated. It must not be spread!"

Seeing him like this, Zhang Cheng did not continue the topic. The two drank for a while, talked about their farewell, and then ended the banquet.

…………

Zhang Ruoqi, the right assistant minister of the Ministry of War, did not stay long. The next day, he hurried back to the capital with his personal guards to report.

However, just as Zhang Ruoqi left, Yongning Earl Zhang Cheng received a piece of great news...