The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Although war broke out in the northwest, Zhu Youtang seemed unconcerned. He seemed certain that as long as Zhang Zhou was there, everything could be planned out for him.

On this day, Zhu Youtang specially asked Wei Bin to call Zhang Zhou to the palace. The emperor and his minister sat down in the garden and drank tea and chatted together.

"Bingkuan, what's going on in the northwest? I heard that Liu Jin went to war and something went wrong. Maybe he won't come back alive." When Zhu Youtang said this, there was still a smile on his face, as if Liu Jin's life or death was a very ordinary thing to him.

It was also because Liu Jin had offended him before, which made him feel that Liu Jin could not be trusted.

Zhang Zhou said: "The situation has not yet gotten out of control. I have been making detailed plans recently."

Zhu Youtang held the tea bowl and said with a smile, "You have even guessed the location of Huamachi, where the Tartars invaded the border. It seems that the Tartars are being led by the nose by you. You said they came from wherever they came from, and you even sent a large number of troops to defend them. No matter how bad the situation in the northwest changes, it is just that the Tartars looted again and then left. How serious can it be?"

After hearing this, Zhang Zhou also had to think about whether the emperor was complimenting him or secretly warning him?

If he could do whatever he wanted just by relying on the emperor's trust, then he would be incompetent as a powerful official.

We still have to be careful about the emperor's thoughts at all times. As the saying goes, the emperor's heart is in his. We also have to be ready to respond to changes in the situation at any time.

Zhu Youtang asked, "Did Wang Qiong mobilize his troops?"

"Yes." Zhang Zhou nodded. "According to the time, he should send troops, but the Tatars are coming with such force this time that even if he does, he won't be able to mobilize too many troops. The Tatars will probably still cause some chaos on the border."

Zhu Youtang sighed, "Shouldn't we make up for it? Bingkuan, this is what I think. The Tartars are willing to pay any price to invade the border this time. They are pouring out from Huamachi, so the grassland must be under guard. If we send a group of troops from Jizhou, can we march straight in? Of course, we can also go from Datong, after all, Wang Shouren is in Datong."

Zhang Zhou said: "I have the same idea."

"That's what I mean." Zhu Youtang said angrily, "The Tatars are too careless! They know that they are no match for our border soldiers in a head-on confrontation, but they still dare to come! Do you think it is better to send troops from Jizhou, or from Datong? Or... I want to hear your opinion."

Zhang Zhou said: "If we want to send troops to teach the Tatars a lesson, we must also strike them by surprise. The Tatars know the reputation of Xinjianbo, so they will naturally deploy strict defenses around Datong. There must be heavy Tatar troops deployed north of Weining Sea."

Zhu Youtang thought about it and nodded.

"From what I have seen, if we send troops from Jizhou, the range we will go straight to is the three guards of Doyan. This will not have much impact on the Chahar tribe of Tatar. It would be better to send troops from Pianguan or Xuanfu. But if we send troops from Pianguan, it should be to support Ningxia. If we send troops from Xuanfu, it can definitely be said to be a surprise attack." Zhang Zhou said.

Zhu Youtang said, "The governor of Xuanfu and other places is Liu Daxia. I don't know much about this person. Are you familiar with him?"

Zhang Zhou wanted to say that this was a great man, but he was just an official who maintained the status quo in the feudal era, and his ability was obviously not good enough.

Zhang Zhou said: "Sending troops requires speed. Xuanfu sent troops to create some trouble for the Tatars' rear, so that they will retreat. The Tatars have already approached Huamachi, so they must have made some preparations."

Zhu Youtang said with a smile: "Then we will send troops from Xuanfu. I will follow your instructions. We cannot always rely on Wang Shouren. He is also a young and energetic man. I am afraid that he may not be able to hold up sometimes."

Zhang Zhou thought, Wang Shouren can’t hold on?

In terms of military proficiency in the entire Ming Dynasty, if this guy calls himself second, it would be hard for anyone to claim to be first, right?

Of course, he was born in a peaceful time and did not have many opportunities to put his knowledge into practice. Also, because of his academic achievements, he was deified in many places. But his ability... is beyond doubt.

"Bingkuan, I want to let the Tatars know the consequences as soon as possible." Zhu Youtang said with a smile, "Are you worried that I will ask you to lead the army in person?"

Zhang Zhou said: "If Your Majesty wants to send troops, then you can only send troops from Jizhou."

Zhu Youtang smiled and waved his hands, saying, "When I left Beijing, I often thought so too. I came here to find an opportunity to fight alongside you, but after arriving, I realized that fighting or not is actually not important. With someone like you who can settle down and develop, and build a new city so well, in a few years, the Tatars may really surrender without a fight. We will be ahead of the Tatars in more and more areas."

Zhang Zhou nodded and said, "Developing with peace of mind is also the hard truth for winning on the battlefield."

Zhu Youtang said: "I don't want to influence your thoughts, but I also hope that in the next few years, I will have the opportunity to lead the army in person. You should make good arrangements. In addition... the matter of the Minister of Personnel should also be concluded. I only ask you one question, do you want to be the Minister of Personnel, or..."

Zhang Zhou said: "I know that I am not talented enough, nor do I have enough experience."

Zhu Youtang said, "Well, let Lin Han take over the position of Minister of Personnel first. He is old, and he will probably retire in a year or two. I have already decided on the candidate for the cabinet and sent him back to the capital. It is Wang Ao. The remaining one is... The Minister of Revenue will be vacant soon, and I plan to let you take the position."

"minister……"

"Don't refuse." Zhu Youtang said, "The position of the Minister of Revenue is related to all aspects of the country's military and political affairs. With your knowledge of the court, it would be best for you to manage the Ministry of Revenue. After all, we need to build railways, build new cities, and fight wars. We always need someone who can be both thrifty and able to increase revenue and reduce expenditure. This person must be you."

Zhang Zhou said: "I'm afraid this is unreasonable."

Zhu Youtang said with a smile: "It's okay. Others can't do it, but you can't do it too. The more people in the court criticize you, the more it shows that they are jealous of you. I know what you are thinking. Sometimes you are too carefree. Sometimes you should show some courage and don't back down from everything. Be tough when you need to be tough."

Zhang Zhou looked at Zhu Youtang's serious expression and pondered in his heart.

I have become so tough that people think I am controlling the government, and the civil officials have also begun to lose one after another. Even so, you still think I am too weak?
If I become more powerful, I am afraid that I will be the only one who has the final say in the government and the country. Is this what you want to see?

Zhu Youtang said, "Before coming here, I was thinking that letting you be in charge of two departments might put pressure on you. But after coming here, I found that my worries were unnecessary. Looking at this city, I feel emotional. If the Ming Dynasty had a few more cities like this, why worry about the Ming Dynasty not prospering? Build a few more for me."

Zhang Zhou said: "Your Majesty, one port city like this is enough."

"You can also build inland. Aren't there many mines and workshops in Xishan? Build them all together! I think Xishan has great potential. When you return to take over the job at the Ministry of Revenue, build Xishan first! I can see that we don't have enough artillery and muskets in this war in the northwest. You still need to do more research and development. It would be best if everyone can be equipped and every group of troops has enough firearms! Only in this way, no matter where the Tatars come from, it will no longer be a problem."

When Zhu Youtang said this, he became even more proud.

It seems that without doing anything, he will become the greatest emperor of all time.

Zhang Zhou said: "I accept your order. The next step is to develop Xishan and strive to build another industrial city. After that, we will advance to Xuanfu or Datong. In fact, your majesty, Datong's industry is also advancing rapidly. If there is a place with enough firearms to fight in the northwest, it is Datong."

"Really?" Zhu Youtang frowned and asked, "Wang Shouren is still complaining to me about being poor every day?"

Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "This may be his way of showing his attitude. Datong actually has enough troops and food garrisons. I think that in this battle in the northwest today, Xinjianbo will not sit idly by and watch the Tartars' arrogance. The turning point of the battle in the northwest should be in Datong."

Zhu Youtang nodded and said, "In the last battle on the grassland, Wang Shouren led his troops into the grassland, but gained nothing. Later, we found out that he was working for Ma Yi and his men. This time, I clearly transferred his elite troops to help Ningxia, but he did not take any action. If something goes wrong, I will transfer him back to Beijing! I also hope that as you said, he can perform well this time, otherwise... the northwest does not support idle people."

Zhang Zhou said: "I understand."

……

……

Zhang Zhou and Zhu Youtang had a good chat, and it seemed that the war in the northwest was not that important. The rest of the talk was about eating, drinking and having fun. Zhu Youtang was not satisfied with the tour in the previous few days, so he planned to go again and take a good walk in the city, and let Zhang Zhou be his guide.

As he was speaking, a quiet lady came out. It was the virtuous concubine who looked very plain in plain clothes. Zhang Zhou quickly stood up and saluted.

"Bingkuan, you don't have to be polite." Zhu Youtang said, "We are all family, there is no need to be so formal. Concubine Xian, please sit down."

Zhu Youtang didn't put on airs in front of women.

Of course, the prerequisite is that you have to be familiar with him. Otherwise, given Zhu Youtang's socially anxious nature, he doesn't like to talk too much with strangers, and even feels awkward sitting together, let alone having no topics to talk about.

But once he got familiar with me, he talked a lot and became more emotionally dependent.

Zhang Zhou said: "I shouldn't have disturbed your majesty's leisure."

Zhu Youtang said with a smile: "What kind of hobby is this? I just came here to relax. This time I didn't bring my son with me. I left him in the capital."

Zhu Houxuan was not taken to Binhai City. In Zhang Zhou's opinion, Zhu Youtang did not seem to be too worried about what conspiracy Empress Zhang was playing behind the scenes.

Zhu Youtang now seems to be very confident in controlling the women in the harem.

"Bingkuan, I learned about the Ning family girl from Concubine Xian. I didn't expect it to be like that. In the past in the palace, the Ning family girl had treated many people. How good is her medical skills?" Zhu Youtang asked with interest.

Zhang Zhou said, "It's hard for me to say."

Zhu Youtang seemed to understand what Zhang Zhou meant and nodded, saying, "Deal with it yourself. If there really is someone behind this who is deliberately targeting you, I will support you. You don't have to care who it is."

Zhang Zhou was also thinking, this matter was the result of a fight between your queen and the virtuous concubine, and you told me not to care about it, but how could I not care?

No matter how righteous you are, you can't kill the queen, right?
Besides, it doesn't seem appropriate to kill the queen just for Ning Tong.

Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "There must be some misunderstanding behind this matter. I think this matter should be over first."

Zhu Youtang smiled as he poured a cup of tea and handed it to Concubine Xian. He seemed very casual and said, "Drink tea, my beloved concubine. You should take care of your body. Bingkuan, do you know why I asked Concubine Xian to come here? Actually, she...haha."

As soon as these words were spoken, Zhang Zhou understood.

The virtuous concubine is pregnant again.

Zhu Youtang was not afraid of Empress Zhang's conspiracy against the child who had already been born, but Concubine Xian had just become pregnant. If she was not careful with her tonic and meals, the child might be gone, and there was no way he could figure out how the child was gone.

After all, it is very common for the fetus to be lost after pregnancy.

Zhu Youtang knew that if this happened, many things would be difficult to deal with, so he decided to just summon Concubine Xian to Binhai City.

"Let her go back in about half a year." Zhu Youtang said with a smile, "I may have to trouble you again this time."

Zhang Zhou was actually speechless too.

I was thinking, as soon as your new concubine became pregnant, you pushed people out of the palace and didn't dare let the queen meet her. You are so defensive, you have to rely on your own majesty to break the deadlock.

What's the point of always pushing people to me?
Is this your child or mine?
Zhang Zhou said: "I will do my best."

……

……

Zhang Zhou came out of the palace and went to see Ning Tong immediately.

Ning Tong had just gone to pay a visit to Concubine Xian. After coming back, she seemed to have calmed down and was ready to be a wife again. When she saw Zhang Zhoulai, she treated him as a concubine, without any of her previous arrogance.

Zhang Zhou frowned and said, "Looking at you like this, you really are a lady from a noble family, well-educated and well-mannered."

Ning Tong said, "Master, do you mean that I was not well-educated and sensible enough before?"

Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "What do you think?"

Ning Tong felt somewhat helpless after hearing this.

Because as a woman of the Duke Chengguo's mansion, she had never thought that one day she would be devoted to Zhang Zhou as a concubine. Of course, she had never thought about how to have a good relationship with Zhang Zhou. But now it is different. Even her life was saved by Zhang Zhou. She has to devote herself to him even if she doesn't want to.

"You know the news that Concubine Xian is pregnant, right?" Zhang Zhou said.

"I don't know." Ning Tong was also surprised.

Zhang Zhou said, "That's right. Concubine Xian would not dare to leak this news without the permission of His Majesty. Concubine Xian will probably stay in the temporary palace in Binhai City for half a year, and then return to the palace after giving birth."

Ning Tong asked, "Do you want me to take care of it?"

"You still dare to go?" Zhang Zhou said.

Ning Tong thought about it and realized that because she became Concubine Xian’s best friend, she was almost killed by Empress Zhang. The thought made her feel scared.

Zhang Zhou said: "You just need to stay out of this matter. After all, the virtuous concubine already has a title, so there is no need for such detailed care. And since His Majesty has made arrangements, you don't need to worry too much."

Ning Tong nodded.

"Pack up, and have a simple ceremony tomorrow. I will stay at your place tonight. I won't bring you to see my family these days, and you are just an outsider. You should know this."

"clear."

Ning Tong nodded.

She also has a plan for her life, which is not to have any involvement with the women in Zhang Zhou's inner house. Even if she is committed to Zhang Zhou, she must be independent of Zhang Zhou's inner house system. (End of this chapter)