The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 325 Practical Type

East Palace.

Zhu Houzhao sat across from Zhang Zhou, and the teacher and the student just looked at each other like this, as if they were trying to match their eyes on purpose. In the end, Zhu Houzhao's eyes were so dry that he couldn't bear it, and he blinked and then rubbed his eyes.

"His Royal Highness, are you alright?" Gao Feng asked with concern.

Zhu Houzhao waved his hands away, ignoring other people's concerns, and continued to stare at Zhang Zhou and said, "Mr. Zhang, I'm still waiting for you to go to the northwest, lead the army in person, and flatten the grassland in one fell swoop. It seems that you are not doing too well. Let others charge forward, and you will receive a lot of credit!"

Zhang Zhou said with an indifferent look on his face: "The crown prince is overwhelmed."

"Am I rewarding you? Can't understand what I mean?" Zhu Houzhao was now like a half-grown boy, with a lot of opinions, and his voice was somewhat hoarse.

Gao Fengdao: "His Royal Highness, Mr. Zhang, let's not hurt our friendship, and speak well if we have something to say."

It seems that Gao Feng is also afraid that Zhu Houzhao will break up with the only gentleman who can control the situation, and with Zhang Zhou's current status in the court, offending Zhang Zhou will have no good results. Perhaps Zhang Zhou thinks that they, the eunuchs of the East Palace, are sowing discord ?

Zhang Zhou said coldly: "If I level the grassland, when the prince becomes an adult, he will be willing to face the empty grassland and not want to do anything by himself?"

"Damn!" Zhu Houzhao patted his thigh, "Of course I will go to battle in person, and subdue those disobedient bastards in the grassland in one fell swoop!"

Zhang Zhoudao: "Even if the crown prince really has the opportunity to fight in person, shouldn't he fight a battle with preparation first? If you don't prepare, you can win with just lip service? Today's firearms represented by cannons are certainly strong, but they don't have enough iron. How can so many cannons be built? Just having cannons without shells can accomplish great things?"

"If you go to the battlefield and just fire one round of artillery, it will be silent. How different is it from having no artillery? Any war is completed by the accumulation of resources. Even when the Tatars invade the border of our Ming Dynasty, they will prepare for it." Two weapons, only a naive child would think that the war is won by the so-called art of war and ingenuity, and everything still depends on the most basic accumulation!"

Gao Feng on the side was in a hurry.

Why do you still say that the prince is "childish"?
Isn't it that which pot is not opened and which pot is lifted?
But Zhu Houzhao said "Oh", as if he was taught, he asked: "That is to say, if I level the grassland after I become an adult, can I have tens of thousands of artillery pieces to bombard the grassland indiscriminately?" , can blow up hundreds of thousands of cavalry casually?"

Zhang Zhoudao: "Why do you need so many guns? Do you know how big an area can be covered by thousands of cannons lined up? If you want to fight a decisive battle with the Tartars, the Tartars will walk around you. At that time, you have to fight for speed." , riding a horse and chasing him with flint blunderbuss... Whether it is a long-distance or close-range combat, it can be suppressed in terms of strength."

"Oh oh oh." Zhu Houzhao didn't have a temper now, "That's alright, you hurry up and prepare. When I grow up, I will be the chief general and you will be the deputy general. Let's go..."

Speaking of this, Zhu Houzhao seemed to be afraid that Gao Feng and others would report his feelings to his father, so he glanced at Gao Feng and said, "What else do you have to do here? Back off! I still have matters involving military planes, etc. , to discuss with Mr. Zhang, go out!"

"Yes."

Gao Feng looked at Zhang Zhou with aggrieved expression.

I thought to myself, I was worried about your discord at first, but now I know that you, Zhang, can really see His Highness' pulse, knowing that His Highness wants to lead troops to flatten the grassland in person, so you said that on purpose.

But the problem is, even if the crown prince is an adult, as long as he is the crown prince and has no younger brother, His Majesty will not let the crown prince go even if the imperial conquest comes personally?

……

……

After Gao Feng and other eunuchs have all retired.

Zhu Houzhao complained in front of Zhang Zhou.

"...You don't know, my father didn't make any sense recently, so he grounded me and didn't let me go anywhere. I haven't been out of the palace for a long time." Zhu Houzhao raised his head and thought for a while, "Go When did you leave the palace for the first time? I can’t even remember!”

Zhang Zhou narrowed his eyes, the boy looked more and more like a boudoir.

Zhu Houzhao said: "Since you are back, do you want to tell my father to let me go out more? I don't ask for anything else, I will go to see the show with you, and I won't run around. This is the head office, right?"

Zhang Zhoudao: "There is no hope. Now the north is not peaceful, and the capital is often under martial law. Your Majesty is only you, the heir of the emperor. How can you easily put you in danger?"

"Then... that is to say, if I have a few younger brothers, the emperor will let me go out?" Zhu Houzhao seemed to understand Zhang Zhou's hint.

Zhang Zhou asked: "Then how many more children do you want Your Majesty to have, and how many more brothers do you have?"

Zhu Houzhao thought about it, nodded and said, "There's nothing wrong with it."

"Aren't you afraid that they will steal your position as the heir?" Zhang Zhou smiled. He hasn't heard of being a prince yet. He hopes to have more younger brothers. You must know that Zhu Houzhao usually doesn't appreciate his father much, even if Daming has the eldest son of the emperor. With the inheritance system in place, how do you know that Zhu Youtang will not abolish his crown prince?
Zhu Houzhao said: "Don't be afraid, anyway, I was born by my mother, the eldest son, unless I die... If I really die, who will inherit the crown prince instead of inheriting it? I am buried in the tomb, and it doesn't matter who inherits." What about the throne? Can I handle it?"

"Ha ha."

Zhang Zhou admired Zhu Houzhao's open-mindedness and self-confidence.

It seems that Zhu Houzhao didn't know how messed up he was, and he didn't know how much his father loved him and hated him.

This kid's stubbornness is brought into his bones... Zhang Zhou also thought that if Zhu Houzhao was replaced by his father and experienced what his father had experienced, the acquired environment would cultivate Zhu Houzhao to be cautious and self-denying King, like his father, or will he continue to do so?
Thinking about it now, this kid was probably killed by someone early on, and the throne could not be passed on to him.

"That's fine, find a chance to help you talk, if you really have a chance to leave the palace, you have to be more obedient, otherwise I will just cause trouble for myself."

"Don't worry, you still don't know my temper? I'm the most disciplined. If you agree not to walk around after leaving the palace, you will definitely not walk around! Hehe."

While making a promise there, he was unconsciously smiling.

It seems that he himself knows that breaking one's word is a child's privilege. If he is really out of the palace, he can't give me fun, and he still wants me not to run around?
It's not that I'm naive, it's that you are too naive.

……

……

After recuperating from illness, Zhang Zhou came out of the mountain again and became the prince's lecturer again, which meant that the prince's foot ban was officially lifted.

But in fact, Zhu Houzhao often goes to see Zhu Youtang and his wife recently.

Zhu Houzhao’s birthday is September 24th in the lunar calendar. As the prince’s Qianqiu Festival, the court usually holds some celebrations, such as hundreds of officials salute him, but the most lively thing recently does not involve Zhu Houzhao, but Zhu Youtang The younger brother Zhu Youzun was concerned about Hengzhou Prefecture, where King Fanyong resided.

According to the system of the Ming Dynasty, before the vassal kings, especially the brothers of the emperor, had to go to the vassals after they became adults, some farewell ceremonies would be held in the capital, and all officials even went to their residences in the capital to salute.

The vassal king will also enter the palace to salute the emperor. This parting is likely to be the last meeting between brothers. Of course, there will be many vassal kings who will allow them to come to Beijing to pay homage, and the chances are very few.

In the eyes of the world, Zhu Youtang is nothing special. He is neither Zhu Youtang's oldest brother nor the most capable. Anyway, he is a very ordinary vassal king.

From Zhang Zhou's point of view, the biggest difference between this person and other vassal kings is probably that his mother, like Xing Wang Zhu Youzhao, was the concubine Shao, who was later the Empress Dowager Shao.

"Mr. Zhang, His Majesty means that others can go to see King Yong, but you don't have to go."

When Xiao Jing sent Zhang Zhou out of the palace that day, he especially said something.

Zhu Youtang was probably also afraid that those feudal lords would use Zhang Zhou's power to do something, so he shy away from letting those younger brothers come to see Zhang Zhou.

If Zhu Youtang had more sons, he probably wouldn't have to worry so much.

Zhang Zhou asked: "If he insists on visiting my house, should I also keep him out?"

"No." Xiao Jing said with a smile, "How could King Yong come out to meet the ministers of the court so easily before he became a vassal? He should know the rules. And even if you shut him out, His Majesty will not say anything .Do you have anything else to say to him? If so, our family can convey it for you."

Zhang Zhoudao: "The only thing is, listen to His Majesty when choosing Yongwang's mansion, otherwise... you will suffer disaster."

"This……"

Xiao Jing didn't quite understand what Zhang Zhou meant.

In fact, the vassal kings of Ming Dynasty were very superstitious, and they were also very stubborn in choosing mansions.

When they arrived at their own domain, they seldom directly accepted the mansion bestowed by the emperor. Most of them would ask to move the mansion to a place they thought was good.

This point... is actually traceable.

If their vassal mansion was built by the imperial court, the emperor would imperceptibly want to suppress their fate and keep them trapped in the vassal mansion. Building a house in a place I like more... Even moving to another city or feudal land can be proposed, and it will even be approved.

After King Yong became a vassal, he moved his mansion to a place he liked, and then...died in the Hengzhou earthquake in the second year of Zhengde.

A typical example of not tossing and not dying.

Xiao Jing asked seriously: "Is there anything special about it?"

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "Eunuch Xiao is going to tell His Majesty the truth, right?"

"Uh..." Xiao Jing looked embarrassed.

If Zhang Zhou really had something to say to King Yong, Xiao Jing, as the admiral of the East Factory, would not be able to hide it, this is a big taboo.

And when he asked Zhang Zhou what he wanted to tell King Yong, he also meant to make trouble for Zhang Zhou on purpose.

Logically speaking, there should be nothing to remind Zhang Zhou of submitting to a vassal.

Zhang Zhoudao: "I guess, in the next few years, the ground in Hengzhou may not be peaceful, and what natural and man-made disasters will happen. I can't predict it until now. But if King Yong insists on going against the trend and avoiding If this matter is opened, then his result will be very bad...so he should stay in his fief, so that he can save his life."

"what?"

When Xiao Jing heard that it was "to save his life", he was very surprised.

This is not sending any message to King Yong, but almost a threat.

It is probably saying, you King Yong listen to your brother, everything is safe and you can save your life; if you don't listen, your life will be lost!

"Got it, got it." After a short silence, Xiao Jing wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

I was also thinking in my heart, so Zhang Bingkuan could do such a "advice" to send the vassal king to the vassal, right?

……

……

September thirteenth.

After the court meeting ended that day, Zhu Youtang summoned Tu Yu, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, and three members of the cabinet alone.

The four of them didn't know exactly what they were going to say.

When he arrived at Qianqing Palace, Zhu Youtang handed over two things to four people for inspection.

"Several members of the Qing family, many people have played before, saying that Bing Kuan's time as an official is still short. Let him use a secret to connect with the fate of the Ming Dynasty. It is the alchemist's words that cannot be fully believed. Now let him be in a high position. Even without the experience of governing the country, it is easy to cause disasters."

Several people present felt very comfortable after hearing this.

The things mentioned by those who gave the report are exactly what we think in our hearts.

Your Majesty, aren't you using alchemists to govern the country?

"Here is the roster of local employers proposed by the Ministry of Officials today. It is used as the list of candidates that Bing Kuan mentioned a few days ago. He thinks they are suitable candidates. Do you see if there are any similarities?"

Zhu Youtang made his words clear.

Two are also reports from the employer, and the other is the transfer of personnel made by the Ministry of Officials based on assessments over the years and ratings.

The other is Zhang Zhou's "investigation" to speculate on the list of people that the Ministry of Officials may employ.

After the four people read it, they were all taken aback. Although the order and other things were different, the court might not have mentioned some positions, or Zhang Zhou, who was mentioned by the official department, did not mention it... But the big list is basically the same. Even in the arrangement of some important positions such as the Chief Political Commissioner and the Procuratorate Commissioner, they have done exactly that.

Li Dongyang frowned and said, "Your Majesty, is this really... what Zhang Zhou planned a few days ago?"

Zhu Youtang said: "You can also think that it is his prophecy or speculation about people's hearts, but I don't think so. I think he is very proficient in court affairs. You should have your own opinion."

Xie Qian stared at Tu Yu with doubts.

It is probably saying that it is not that your official department leaked the list of personnel to Zhang Zhou in advance, and then allowed Zhang Zhou to present it to the king in advance, so that His Majesty could show his knowledge of people by taking the opportunity?

Tu Yu handed back the two items to Xiao Jing with trembling hands, and asked for an order: "Your Majesty, the old minister believes that this is... nonsense."

Zhu Youtang looked relaxed, and said with a smile: "You don't mean to say that Bing Kuan obtained the leaked list of your official department, so you made such a prediction? Or are you suspicious of someone from the official department?"

He didn't say it clearly, and he probably missed Lin Han's name.

As the left servant of the Ministry of Officials, Lin Han is still responsible for many assessments and other things, and now Lin Han has been promoted because of Zhang Zhou's relationship. Seeing that he has the opportunity to be promoted to Shangshu, Tu Yu will be "shattered and cold", thinking that it may be The people around him betrayed the officials.

Tu Yu didn't say anything, but judging by his expression, that's what he thought.

"My dear family, please don't doubt Bingkuan's intentions, and don't doubt the righteousness of the ministers in the court. Don't say that Bingkuan doesn't need to do those shady things for such a list. In order to show oneself, what is the result? Among these people, is there someone from him? Or is it because he wants you to place people close to him in the six ministries, five temples and places?"

Zhu Youtang was laughing.

Seeing that these ministers were anxious about Zhang Zhou's prediction, he felt a lot of face.

In the past, there was really no way to confront civil servants. No matter in terms of knowledge or public opinion, it was difficult for an emperor to directly confront ministers. Moreover, Zhu Youtang was not that kind of "social bull". He was so timid and afraid of getting into trouble. Personality, a man who can't even accept a concubine, how much chemical reaction can he be expected to have with the minister?
But now, with the support of Zhang Zhou, even his closed personality has been greatly improved, and he has changed from an autistic king who is satisfied with others' flattery, to a courageous, insightful and strategic man. Practical Mingjun.

Even Zhu Youtang is very happy with the improvement of his character.

With Bing Kuan here, I am so confident.

"Okay, I just want to show it to you. Bingkuan played this matter very early, about half a month ago, and I didn't intend to show it to anyone." Zhu Youtang said, "I won't either. Transferring him to the Ministry of Officials, just teaching the prince and the matter of the hearing office is enough for him to keep busy."

"Well. Your family should already know about the matter of the listening office. I haven't brought it to the court to tell it. Although there is no government office in the listening office in the future, I plan to give them a room in the cabinet. Next to the value room, we will take care of each other more in the future."

Liu Jian couldn't help but said: "Your Majesty, does the so-called superior office need to share the affairs of the cabinet?"

Zhu Youtang said: "What I mean is that they do not belong to each other, and there is no overlap in errands. They each do their own things. Some involve border battle reports, and some involve memorials and consultations. Each side has a copy, and each is not related. There is no need to draft a draft agreement with Zhu. For matters other than war, I will not bother with the superiors."

"I won't let Bingkuan enter the cabinet, and I won't even let him go to the hearing office. It's better for the ministers of the DPRK and China to be on duty. He is more likely to be present at the hearing office when the public is discussing."

Liu Jian heard it.

The emperor intends to let Zhang Zhou enter the "Shang Ting Office", but does not use Zhang Zhou to take the rotation. Generally speaking, this Shang Ting Office is still headed by Zhang Zhou, which is equivalent to "Chief Minister of the Shang Ting Office", because from the consultant From an aspect point of view, the emperor obviously adopted Zhang Zhou's opinion more than other people.

It can even be said that the rest of the people are acting as a cover for Zhang Zhou.

Because the emperor wants to consult outsiders, Zhang Zhou only needs the opinion of himself, which seems to be enough.

Liu Jian no longer objected directly, he said: "That should form a custom, there should be a model of rotation, and the time limit for each person in the listening office should also be limited."

Zhu Youtang shook his head with a smile and said, "That's not right. If I want to ask for opinions, if I have to set a time limit, doesn't that mean that if I want to ask other people's opinions, I have to consider whether it is too late? I just agreed not to choose the members of the Shangdiao Department from people other than Jinshi, this is the last concession."

"Several Qings, it's not that I insist on listening to Bingkuan. The purpose of setting up the hearing office is to give the ministers of the court and China a chance to prove themselves? If someone is more capable than Bingkuan and replaces him, I'll be happy about that too."

The implication is that Bing Kuan is irreplaceable to me, and you can't replace him, so what's the point?
(End of this chapter)