I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 391 It’s not easy, it’s really not easy!
Zhu Yijun walked into the Qinzheng Hall, where Duke Chengguo Zhu Xizhong, Duke Yingguo Zhang Rong, Marquis Yangwu Xue Han, Marquis Zhenyuan Gu Huan, Marquis Lingbi Tang Shilong, as well as Minister of War Cao Bangfu and Liu Tao were all there.

After some greetings, Zhu Yijun sat down and went straight to the point.

“Since everyone is here, let’s make this short.

I have been thinking about how to improve the military system and government of the Ming Dynasty. Today, I got some inspiration while walking and talking with Mr. Wenchang, so I asked everyone to come and discuss this matter.

The military government controlled the military affairs at home and abroad, and was divided into five military governorships. The Central Military Governorship was responsible for military registration, military discipline, and the selection and removal of military officers; the Left Military Governorship was responsible for the organization and training of the army, military orders and dispatch; the Right Military Governorship was responsible for the organization and training of the navy, military orders and dispatch; the Rear Military Governorship was responsible for the collection, transportation, distribution and distribution of military equipment and food; and the Front Military Governorship was responsible for the organization and training of the Wing Guard Army, military orders and dispatch.

A separate General Staff Bureau was set up, directly under the Military Government, and managed by the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Central Army; the Navy Bureau was completely incorporated into the Right Army Commander-in-Chief’s Office.

In Zhu Yijun's design, the Central Army Governor's Office was the general headquarters, the Left Army Governor's Office was the army headquarters, the Right Army Governor's Office was the navy headquarters, and the Rear Army Governor's Office was the general rear headquarters.

The Grand Marshal is the commander-in-chief, the Associate Marshal is the deputy commander, and the Assistant Marshal is the secretary-general.

The first four military governorates were within everyone's expectations, and their powers were also understandable, but what did the Wing Guard Army under the jurisdiction of the Front Army Military Governorate mean?
Seeing everyone's confusion, Zhu Yijun explained.

"I divide the Ming army into three types. The first is the border army, which is responsible for national defense. It can be called the national defense army. It is divided into 26 armies such as Yulin and Konghe, which are the town guard army. The second is the camp guard army, which is responsible for pacifying the local area, eliminating bandits and ensuring the people's well-being. I also call it the local force. The third is the wing guard army.

I have discussed with Mr. Wenchang about subduing the tribes in the south and north of the desert and dividing them into wings, granting them titles and titles of thousand households, hundred households, and small flags. Civil affairs will be under the Xuanhuiyuan, and military affairs will be under the Qianjun Dudufu. The Wing Guard Army has the same name as the Wing Guard Division, which is easy to confuse. So let's change the Wing Guard Division to the Yiwei Division."

"Your Highness, what are the powers of the General Staff?" Cao Fubang asked.

"The General Staff Bureau collects intelligence, formulates national defense strategies, draws up training plans for the army and navy, coordinates the five military governors' offices, and organizes military exercises. It also directs operations during wartime."

Everyone looked at each other. It seemed that the General Staff Bureau was above the Five Military Governor's Office. It was a special agency in the Rong government that was responsible for combat command and directly under His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

Seeing that no one had any objection, Zhu Yijun continued speaking.

"Duke Zhu of Chengguo was appointed as the Grand Commander of the Central Army, Minister Hu (Hu Zongxian) of the Ministry of War and Marquis Gu of Zhenyuan were appointed as Associate Commanders, and Vice Minister Xu of the Ministry of War was appointed as Assistant Commander of the Central Army and Director of the General Staff. Gu was also appointed as the Governor-General of the Beijing Camp.

Duke Zhang of Yingzhou was appointed as the Grand Commander of the Left Army, while Earl Qi Yuanjing of Fengning and Earl Ma of Lanxi were appointed as Associate Commanders, with Qi Yuanjing also serving as Assistant Commander of the Left Army.

Duke Daichuan (Liu Tao) was appointed as the Grand Commander of the Right Army, Duke Beishan (Lu Tong) and Duke Tang of Lingbi were appointed as the Associate Commanders of the Right Army, and Duke Mingquan (Liang Menglong) was appointed as the Assistant Commander of the Right Army.

Xue Han, Marquis of Yangwu, was appointed as the Grand Commander of the Rear Army, Cao Gong, the Minister of War, was appointed as the Associate Commander of the Rear Army, and Yu Xiu Gong (Zheng Luo) was appointed as the Assistant Commander of the Rear Army.

Zhu Yijun glanced at everyone and said word by word: "In order to let you focus on military affairs, Duke Chengguo and Duke Yingguo, you all need to withdraw from the Supervisory Office and focus on the military government.

Keep Lord Gu, Marquis of Zhenyuan, Lord Cao of the Ministry of War, Mr. Wenchang, Lord Daichuan and Lord Ma of Lanxi in the Supervisory Office to assist in military affairs.

Zhu Xizhong, Zhang Rong and others had long known that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had put them into the Supervisory Office just to "build up momentum" and raise the pressure on the Supervisory Office so that it could compete with the Cabinet.

After four or five years of operation, the court and local military and political leaders were familiar with the rules.

The imperial edicts issued by the Cabinet are all government affairs in the normal process, while those sent by the Supervisory Office are all military affairs, as well as matters assigned by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince in an urgent or secret manner, and they have a higher priority.

Zhu Xizhong, Zhang Rong and others also knew the rules. During their days in the Supervisory Office, they spoke when necessary and kept silent when necessary, showing great tact.

Now is the time to retire.

The people present also realized that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince would have other uses for the Governor's Office, but these nobles didn't care.

At this moment, they were secretly happy. After the prince's maneuvering, the military power returned to the hands of the nobles and was completely separated from the cabinet and the Ministry of War.

It’s not easy, it’s really not easy!
Time flies. The spring of the third year of Longqing passed by in a flash, and the summer of April came with head held high.

In front of Chaoyang Gate, Zhou Bingzhou, Yuan Xian'an and Li Zhibin, the three sons of Huang Shicheng, were standing on the open space on the left side of Chaoyang Gate, wearing robes suitable for traveling and big hats, looking up at the towering Chaoyang Gate Tower.

"Capital, I don't know when we can come back!" Li Zhibin sighed with some sadness.

Zhou Bingzhou looked indifferent, "Be content, the three of us were able to escape and have such a good ending, thanks to Xiyuan's secret protection."

Yuan Xian'an sighed: "Yes, it's not easy, it's really not easy!"

"Let's go. We'll go our separate ways in Tongzhou and go our separate ways." Zhou Bingzhou turned around and said.

"Let's go. No one is here to see us off. It's time to go."

"Haha, yes, we are all lost dogs, how can we compare with the retired Minister of Rites Nan Yugong."

Just as the three turned around, two men came out of the city gate at full speed, ran up to them, dismounted, and bowed to the three men, saying, "Mr. Zhou Bingzhou, Mr. Yuan Xian'an, and Mr. Li Zhibin."

"Exactly." "Please wait a moment. A distinguished person will be here soon to see you three off."

Noble person?

The three of us have offended the new cabinet minister and minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Gao Gong. We are hated by everyone, and all our relatives and friends are staying away from us. How could anyone come to see us off?
The three of them waited for a while, and then a carriage, escorted by more than ten cavalrymen, came out of Chaoyang Gate.

A man in straight clothes got off the carriage. It was Yang Jinshui, the eunuch of the Shaofujian.

Zhou Bingzhou recognized him and was shocked. He whispered to his two companions, and then they stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Eunuch Yang, why are you here?"

Yang Jinshui said with a smile: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has instructed us that the three gentlemen should not leave the capital in a lonely manner because they are loyal and righteous. If someone comes to see you off today, I will not come out. If no one comes to see you off, I will see you off.

Today, all the people at Chaoyang Gate are here to see Gao Zixiang off, and no one is here to see you off, so we have to come out now."

Zhou Bingzhou and the other two knelt down with a plop, kowtowed in the direction of the West Garden, and said with tears in their eyes: "We thank Your Highness for the grace of heaven."

"Stand up." Yang Jinshui helped the three of them up one by one.

A guard stepped forward, holding a tray with three glasses filled with wine.

Yang Jinshui handed them to Zhou Bingzhou and the other two one by one.

"This is the best Fenjiu, it is definitely not diluted with water." Yang Jinshui said, "Now that the matter has passed, Gao Butang has entered the cabinet and has become Gao Buge. He also promised the prince that he would not get involved with you again.

There is no one in the world who dares to make a promise to the prince and then break it. From now on, you can rest assured and go to your respective places and perform your duties.

Although the three of you have been demoted, His Highness has remembered your names. As long as you work hard and do your job well, you will naturally be one step ahead of others."

Zhou Bingzhou and the other two held their wine glasses and answered in unison: "I'll remember that."

"Well, we wish you three all the best and a bright future!"

"Thank you, Eunuch Yang, thank you for your grace!"

Zhou Bingzhou and the other two drank the wine in their glasses, then got on the hired carriage and headed east.

After walking a few hundred meters, the three of them couldn't help but lift the carriage window and look back at Chaoyang Gate.

Zhou Bingzhou suddenly asked, "My two brothers, what do you think this city gate looks like?"

Yuan Xian'an said generously: "It's like a monument of merit, engraved with the great achievements we will accomplish!"

Li Zhibin narrowed his eyes and said sadly: "It's like a tombstone, burying the ideals and lives of countless people with lofty ideals."

When the carriage arrived in Tongzhou, the three of them were about to go their separate ways.

Zhou Bingzhou said with tears in his eyes and bowed.

"The three of us studied hard for 20 years and were lucky enough to pass the exam. We thought we could realize our ambitions. But we didn't expect that the career path would be difficult and precarious. Now the political world is turbulent and the three of us are just drifting with the tide, unable to decide for ourselves.

Brother Yuan will turn north to Liaodong; Brother Li will turn west at Linqing to Lanzhou; I will go straight to Dagu and take a ship to Guangxi. From now on, we will be separated by mountains and long roads, so take care of yourself. "

Li Zhibin's face was covered with tears and he couldn't utter a word.

Yuan Xian'an said with tears in his eyes: "My two brothers, take care of yourselves. When we meet again in the capital, we will have a good drink together."

Zhou Bingzhou said generously: "Okay! When we meet again, we must drink that wine without water."

Li Zhibin nodded vigorously: "Yes, the wine without water is really delicious!"

The three of them got on carriages and different boats. At this time, the sky was high and the clouds were sparse, and wild geese were flying north. There was a lot of noise, but only one figure was left.

Zhou Bingzhou, standing on the stern of the Centipede, held onto the side of the boat and shouted, "We are living in a time of great change that has not happened in a thousand years. The Ming Dynasty is in turmoil, breaking the old and establishing the new! We should follow the trend and persevere. There will always be a day when the sun will shine brightly!"

On a nearby boat, Gao Yi, the former Minister of Rites who was suddenly found guilty and ordered to retire by Xiyuan, was sitting in the cabin. He listened and sighed deeply, looking melancholy and lost with a complicated expression.

Zhou Bingzhou and the other two bowed to each other. After a while, the car and boat left, going farther and farther away, and soon disappeared into the vast sky and earth.

(End of this chapter)