The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

When Aunt Lin went to the theater to meet Zhang Zhou, Zhang Zhou was meeting Zhu Feng, and she was not qualified to go up to see him for the time being.

Zhu Feng was obviously "escape". When he sat down with Zhang Zhou in the private room of the theater, he didn't complain, but the look on his face clearly told Zhang Zhou that he was very unhappy now.

"Brother Zhang, I think the British Duke is probably going to have a bad time in this battle. I am not saying that he will lose, but I think it is almost impossible for him to win the battle. It is very likely that wherever his troops go, the Tatars will No matter where you avoid it, you will end up doing useless work, and you will probably get nothing when you come back... If the Tatars make a surprise attack or something, not only will the border be in danger, but even his central army headquarters will probably suffer losses... "

Zhu Feng would still pretend to talk about official business.

Zhang Zhou asked: "Then do you think I'm cheating him?"

Zhu Feng said: "I know His Majesty sent him there, but I think... His Majesty may... not want him to win either."

"Knowing the truth, you'd better be careful with your words. Even if you say this in front of me, it's not appropriate. Do you think that His Majesty sent the British Duke to the northwest just to see his jokes, to joke with the lives of Ming Dynasty soldiers, and to risk the safety of border areas? Are you kidding?" Zhang Zhou scolded Zhu Feng with a straight face.

It's like an older brother teaching his younger brother a lesson.

Zhu Feng himself has an older brother, but obviously he doesn't take his elder brother Zhu Lin's words to heart. The two brothers are only superficial brothers.

But Zhu Feng didn't know why, but he was very willing to accept what Zhang Zhou said every time.

"I got it." Zhu Feng showed that expression again, which Zhang Zhou described as an open-minded attitude that he would not die.

"Initially, I recommended to your Majesty that you should go to Ningxia again. Your Majesty is considerate of you. The mountains and rivers are far away and I am afraid that you are not used to it, and no one can help you in the current war. It seems that the British did not lead the troops into battle. He has a lot of experience, but he has a lot of prestige in the army, so there should be no problem in fighting this battle." Zhang Zhou said.

Zhu Feng said with some expectation in his eyes: "Brother Zhang, do you mean that you will secretly plan for him?"

Zhang Zhou did not answer Zhu Feng.

Planning for Zhang Mao seems to be Zhang Zhou's responsibility, but it does not fall within his scope of responsibilities.

In order to show his support for Zhang Maolin, Zhang Zhou gave Zhang Maolin the so-called marching plan before he set off. However, the situation in the northwest was constantly changing, and the Tatars were obviously only robbing and not fighting hard. They relied solely on Zhang Maolin's instructions. The strategy provided allows Zhang Mao to ambush if there is no accurately predicted location. If Zhang Mao only relies on his luck, it will indeed be difficult for Zhang Mao to achieve great results.

The two were sitting opposite each other. There was clearly someone waiting to see him at the door, but Zhu Feng still had no intention of avoiding him.

Zhang Zhou asked: "Zhijie, you haven't been out much recently. It's hard to see you. Is there something unspeakable?"

Zhu Feng said: "That's because I only walk between home and Yanwu Hall. Grandma won't let me go out casually. She even stipulates that I have to go home after dark. If I hadn't told you to come to see you today, I'd be afraid... Oh! If Brother Zhang... If you have anything to do with me, you can go directly to Yanwu Hall to find me."

Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "How old are you, and you still have your grandmother to take care of you?"

Zhu Feng lowered his head, looking a little annoyed and said: "I don't want to do this either, I just... won't say it anymore."

Obviously this is the "unspeakable secret".

After Zhu Feng married Chen Rui's daughter, he was obviously still not ready to be a husband, so he left his newlywed wife alone and wanted to find his "old sweetheart", but Mrs. Cheng Guotai had obviously already To be on guard, that’s why he gave him strict routes.

After all, Zhu Feng did not separate the family from his brother, or he was not qualified to separate the family. In this era where filial piety, righteousness and etiquette came first, he could not ignore the old lady's words.

But Zhang Zhou felt that the old lady of the Zhu family must still have some means to control Zhu Feng obediently.

"Zhijie, do you want to ask about the British Duke, or does someone want you to ask for him?" Zhang Zhou asked.

Zhu Feng's eyes were somewhat confused as he asked: "Brother Zhang, what do you mean by this? I am not entrusted by others. In fact, I care about myself."

Zhang Zhou said: "Sometimes your concern may be guided by others. They want to use you to test my attitude towards the British Duke. There was Bao Guo Gong before me, and then there was the British Duke. Do you think it will be so?" Does anyone think that I have been targeting them?"

"That...it won't happen."

Zhu Feng didn't say anything clearly.

But his expression betrayed him. Apparently his family asked him to ask.

It's very likely that Zhu Hu made an insinuation and asked him to test his tone. Otherwise, why was Zhu Feng allowed to come to the theater this time when he could only stay at the Yanwu Hall and at home?

Isn't Duke Cheng's Mansion worried that after Duke Bao and Duke Ying, it will be their turn to go to the front line to fight, and then they can finish it together?

"It doesn't matter if you do. I have no idea about the dispute between the old and new factions. Some people are secretly instigating the conflict, and some want to reap the benefits." Zhang Zhou said.

"Is it...some official in the court?" Zhu Feng asked.

"It's not who, it's who. Their thoughts are very simple. They think I'm an eyesore in the court and want me to get out early. But the more this happens, the more it proves that what I do is effective. Zhijie, in fact, you and I am the same, if you are not envied by others, you are mediocre. The next step is to give you a chance and perform well."

Zhu Feng looked indifferent and said, "Oh, I understand."

This unsatisfactory look made Zhang Zhou want to beat him.

……

……

Turn your head off.

Zhang Mao had been stationed in Guancheng for two days, but he still hadn't figured out the local troop deployment. Even in these two days, he didn't know how many troops Piantou Pass could mobilize to him.

Zhang Rui went to communicate with the local generals, but Zhang Mao put on airs and waited for his son to come back after nightfall, but Zhang Mao hurriedly summoned Zhang Rui.

"Young Master, you have to be careful, he doesn't seem to be in a good temper today." Someone reminded Zhang Rui.

"Ah."

Zhang Rui knew that his father was still sulking, so he went straight into the General Military Mansion.

Meeting with his father, Zhang Rui then explained in detail to Zhang Mao what he had found out that day: "Previously, according to the imperial court's instructions, 4,900 people would be mobilized from Pianguan City Fortress to coordinate the dispatch of troops, but the actual mobilization could only be Two thousand seven hundred people, this is a full plan. Then we will mobilize troops from the surrounding earth forts. The three forts in the west can mobilize 1,100 people. The east side is less, with 640 people... plus the troops from inside the pass. There are about four to five hundred supply soldiers transferred here to transport food and grass... These people cannot hold weapons to fight, and even if they have temporary weapons, they cannot shoot arrows. At most, they can use knives and guns to escort the food and grass..."

Zhang Mao was already in a bad mood, but after hearing what his son said, he immediately frowned.

Before Zhang Rui could finish speaking, Zhang Mao reached out and interrupted: "Why is it so chaotic? They can match up as many troops as the imperial court allows. Do they still want to draw down the troops?"

Zhang Rui said helplessly: "I told the local authorities the same thing at first, but what they meant was that the area around Pianguan had been downsized since the winter of the 11th year of Hongzhi when Marquis Weining was running the army here. It was because some military households had fled first." The military households cannot be fully staffed, so Marquis Weining reduced the number."

"Wang Weining? He..." Zhang Mao was speechless.

How could a person who had been dead for almost three years have an impact on Zhang Mao?

Why did you guys dig a hole for me three years ago?

Zhang Rui said: "The situation in the northwest has been stable in the past two years, and the Ming Dynasty has a strong military. The situation of insufficient military households has actually been greatly improved. However, because of the previous downsizing reported by Marquis Weining, even if there were soldiers to supplement, the court did not Approval will be determined based on the number of staff at that time."

"Okay, we won't increase the number of troops if we have them. The court really knows how to save money." Zhang Mao almost wanted to curse.

Zhang Rui looked helplessly at his old father and said: "Father, in fact, the situation in our Beijing camp is not much better. Aren't we also short of soldiers in recent years? It's just that we haven't reported it to the court, and the court hasn't paid attention to it. "

"Shut up!" Zhang Mao didn't want to discuss this issue with his son.

Zhang Mao did not want to take the initiative to expose the problem of insufficient troops and horses in the capital camp, but in fact, the capital's defense problem, shortage of soldiers and food, was already serious.

If there were enough soldiers in the capital camp, there would be no need for Zhu Houzhao to transfer four foreign troops to garrison the capital during the Zhengde period.

Zhang Rui said: "The situation in Pianguan is like this now, and the situation in other places is not very good either. Your Majesty has already issued an order to mobilize 50,000 to 60,000 troops and horses. Now it seems...we are the only ones who can bring them out from the Beijing camp." The three thousand soldiers and soldiers are the full force, and the rest... are improvised. When sending troops from the side pass, it is good to bring up to seven or eight thousand soldiers and horses. If we gather the soldiers and horses from all places, it will only be... two It looks like thirty thousand."

Zhang Mao frowned and said, "No matter how lacking we are, it won't be to this extent, right?"

Zhang Rui sighed: "My father may not have led an army in the northwest for many years. I don't know the situation here. It is said that Duke Baoguo nominally leads an army of 50,000, but in fact the full force is only about 40,000, and many of them are recruited." Strong men, the life of the soldiers in the northwest is hard, and there are too many people who have fled... If you think about the rich land of the capital, you can't even fill it up, so how can you have enough soldiers in the northwest?"

Zhang Mao's eyebrows jumped a few times.

His son's words were clearly mocking him.

It's not that he hasn't led troops in the northwest for many years, but he has never led troops in the northwest. As for the situation in the capital, he is aware of it, but he has never paid attention to it. It was not until now that he personally led the troops that he returned to the problem caused by the shortage of troops. the consequences.

That means there is no one who wants to fight!

"As many as you can mobilize. We must send out troops in these two days, otherwise my father will follow in the footsteps of Zhu. Then call all the generals from everywhere to come to me. I want to lecture them!"

If you don't give troops, then you can force them to conquer.

Zhang Rui said: "Then father, if you don't want to report to your Majesty, please let your Majesty... make the decision for us?"

"Hmph!" Zhang Mao said, "As a father, don't you think that you don't know the intentions of those people? They just told me to retreat in spite of the difficulties. If I can't even get soldiers, and they still want the court to send them to me from thousands of miles away, then Others don't laugh at me, Mr. Zhang? Did Mr. Zhu complain to the court when he was leading troops in the northwest?"

Zhang Rui thought for a while, shook his head and said, "He didn't complain, but the result might not be good."

Zhang Mao said angrily: "You are here to relieve my father's worries, not to cause trouble. The success or failure of our family depends on this battle. You can't hold me back."

Zhang Rui said: "Father, would you like to take a look at the tips Mr. Zhang left for you first?"

"Bullshit!" Zhang Mao cursed, "Your son can just call him husband. What do you mean by calling him husband? Don't think that he has saved your life, just think of him as a god. In the Governor's Mansion, it's him In a life-or-death situation, you have to distinguish the big things! Don’t be blinded by small favors.”

"Yes."

Zhang Rui said yes, but he was thinking in his heart, this is a life-saving grace, is it still a small favor?

So what is a great favor?

……

……

Zhang Mao continued to struggle at the Piantou Pass.

The imperial court quickly appointed Zhang Mao as a new governor of Pianguan, and he was also an "old and capable man." It was Ma Zhongxi who had previously served as governor of Xuanfu, and was later transferred to the capital as a minister, but insisted on resigning and returning home.

Lao Ma couldn't get rid of the sand in his eyes. The conflict between him and Ma Yi caused a feud between the local generals and he was even more critical of Zhang Zhou. But it was also because he was not Zhang Zhou's direct descendant, and because he was given the opportunity to lead Zhang Zhou's troops in the northwest. He received military merit awards for his "favor", so he became an unpleasant figure on both sides.

Traditional civil servants would regard him as someone who relied on Zhang Zhou to rise to power.

And the emperor would think that he was a stubborn old minister... and then Lao Ma would become depressed.

This time he was transferred to Pianguan, firstly because he was familiar with the situation in the northwest, and secondly because his hometown was in Beizhili. The emperor also wanted to give him a chance, and also because he was neither of the two factions. It will be easier to get approval.

But it would take several days for Ma Zhongxi to reach Pianguan, and Zhang Mao couldn't wait any longer.

The official document reached Pianguan, and Zhang Mao felt a little relieved when he learned that Ma Zhongxi had arrived.

Finally, someone who can do something is here.

"Father, anyway, Wang Zhongcheng, who is in charge of military affairs in Datong, Xuanfu, just sent someone to deliver a message, saying that he has transferred 6,000 elite soldiers from Datong and is transferring them here. He has appointed Commander Ma Yi as the general to lead this group. People come here.”

Zhang Rui finally brought "good news" to Zhang Mao.

Zhang Mao frowned and said, "Who?"

"Ma Yi! He has won the trust of Uncle Xinjian. You also know that he once made great achievements with Uncle Xinjian in Weininghai. This man is brave and good at fighting. Although he has some misdeeds in other places, he is still a fierce general! At this time, , but you can’t care about it so much.”

The matter about Ma Yi is not a secret in the court.

It was also because some civil servants wrote a big book about this matter behind their backs, saying that Zhang Zhou appointed some unruly generals and officials and used these people to corrupt the imperial court.

But no matter how corrupt he was, after all, Ma Yi had achieved the great victory at Weininghai with Wang Shouren, and even the emperor did not hold him accountable. Even the military generals did not have any big objections to him. This kind of person is considered relatively capable in the military.

Moreover, those who rely on Zhang Zhou to gain momentum and have the reputation of being a fierce general usually cherish their feathers, and they also know what they rely on to make their fortune.

If they still retreat when fighting on the battlefield, their future will be completely over.

That's why Zhang Rui felt that Ma Yi's arrival with 6,000 troops and horses was a powerful addition to a tiger, and Zhang Mao was expected to achieve a great victory in the northwest.

Zhang Maoze was wary of Ma Yi and frowned: "I'm afraid this kind of person doesn't have much ability and is just a flatterer! Wang Bo'an arranged for him to be here with me because he must have felt that he was not useful, otherwise... they would Cheap old man? Humph!" (End of Chapter)