Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 625 Kill two birds with one stone

When Zhang Luan entered the palace, Huai'en came to greet him personally.

On the way, Huai En reminded: "Zhang Guozhang, your Majesty is very sad about the matter of the late emperor. Try not to mention too many things in front of your Majesty. You should stop when it is enough."

Zhang Luan said, "I understand... By the way, Eunuch Huai, regarding the military affairs in the northwest, didn't the imperial court make some preparations beforehand? The Tartars have been so violent all of a sudden this year. Could it be that the new emperor has ascended the throne, and the foreign barbarians are bullying our young emperor and our ministers, and they have no scruples and are ready to move?"

"no way."

Huai En explained, "Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, the threat from the north has never been eradicated. In the early years, the Tatars were in constant turmoil and the tribes attacked each other, which gave the Ming Dynasty an opportunity to take advantage of it. We went on expeditions one after another and won victory after victory, which brought stability to the north for decades.

"It is said that the grassland has stabilized in the past two years. Now that they are hit by a snowstorm, the tribes are extremely short of survival supplies. It is normal for them to go south to plunder the border to obtain people, livestock, and other goods to survive the cold winter."

Zhang Luan said quickly, "This won't do... If the threat from the north continues, the soldiers on the front line will not only have to suffer from hunger and cold, but also have to fight against the Tartars. It will be strange if people's livelihood in the border areas can be good... Once the imperial army is defeated, the people on the border will suffer next."

Huai En sighed: "Zhang Guozhang really cares about the country and the people!"

There is a hint of irony in this statement.

What I mean is, as a relative of the emperor, what's the point of just saying that you are concerned about the country and the people?

You should take some practical action.

Don't think that just because you learned about any military disaster in the northwestern border through Li Zi Province, or raised some money and food for the soldiers on the front line, you can interfere in the situation on the Ming Dynasty's border.

No matter what, you, as a relative by marriage, have no right to interfere in military and political affairs.

Zhang Luan frowned and asked, "Didn't they arrange some generals to lead the troops to fight and teach the foreigners a profound lesson? So that they dare not invade the south?"

Huai En sighed, "We have many famous generals in the Ming Dynasty, but sending troops to the grasslands will cost a lot and yield little, which is a waste of money and manpower, and a wise man would not do it.

"Besides, in this cold winter, when the year is almost over, why would we start a war when we know that the barbarians are only here to steal some things to survive the winter and have not caused any major disaster?"

“That’s not right…”

Zhang Luan wanted to express his own views again.

This time, Huai En interrupted him rudely: "Zhang Guozhang, do you know how much money and food it costs to fight a war? Nowadays, soldiers in the northwest can hardly even support their families, and they don't even know how they will get through this winter. Do you still want to lead troops to fight in such a year?
"No matter how concerned you are about the country and the people, you still have to base it on the actual situation!"

"Oh!"

Zhang Luan said: "In the end, it's still a lack of money and food, right?"

Huai En thought, is this just a matter of lack of money and food?
There are so many things worth discussing!
However, he seemed to agree with it, saying, "That's right. The imperial court is in a tight financial situation. A large-scale battle would cost an incalculable amount of money and food... We can't afford it."

"understood."

After Zhang Luan finished speaking, he remained silent, as if he was thinking about further plans.

Huai En was originally walking in front of Zhang Luan. Hearing this, he couldn't help but slow down his pace and turned back to glance at Zhang Luan, as if asking: What do you understand?

Should we just stop talking about attacking and teaching the Tartars a lesson?

That would be great!

……

……

The inner hall of the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

Zhu Youtang was wearing mourning clothes, sitting there, looking listless, his hand holding the brush shaking constantly, it seemed he still couldn't calm down enough to review the memorials.

Qin Ji persuaded him, "Your Majesty, the late emperor must want to see you rule the country well. Under your leadership, the Ming Dynasty will prosper, the country will be peaceful, and all industries will be prosperous.

"If the late emperor knew this, he would be able to smile in his grave."

When Zhang Luan came in and heard these words, he couldn't help but shook his head slightly.

At present, the Ming Dynasty has a lot of problems that need to be solved urgently. How can we talk about peace and prosperity? It is better to work hard and down-to-earth. Maybe it will take another 10 to 20 years for the country to recover.

"My father-in-law is here."

When Zhu Youtang heard the familiar footsteps, he stood up to greet them without Zhang Luan having to step forward to greet them.

The old father is gone, but my wife’s father is still here!

For an emperor who lacked family affection since childhood, his father-in-law was half a father. Since his biological father was dead and could not be resurrected, he should be nice to the living one. Therefore, he never put on airs in front of Zhang Luan.

Zhang Luan bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."

Zhu Youtang stepped forward to help Zhang Luan up, then took his hand and walked to his seat, saying kindly: "Father-in-law, please sit down. Today is a special day, and I am a little sad and have no intention of attending to government affairs. But if you really have something to do, please don't delay."

"Your Majesty, I am here for matters concerning the northwest." Zhang Luan said as soon as he sat down. "That's right. Li Zisheng received the emperor's order to visit the troops in the northwest. He is almost in Datong. A letter said that there are foreign barbarians disturbing the border around Datong, and the local military seems to be a little slack in resisting the foreign barbarians..."

Huai En interrupted immediately after hearing this: "Zhang Guozhang, let's talk about the matter, don't speculate. The Northwest Army is actively dealing with border affairs. You said that someone is slacking off in military affairs, but you need to give specific examples, and the border inspector will have to verify it."

The implication is that no matter how favored you are, you cannot speak freely in front of the emperor.

If you are not careful with your words and accuse others of being slack in military affairs, it would be equivalent to making their years of hard work go to waste. Many people may even be investigated and punished by the court.

And the root of all this is that you want to show that you are "concerned about the country and the people" with just one sentence out of your big mouth?

Zhu Youtang frowned when he heard this and raised his hand: "Huai Daban, don't interrupt your father-in-law. Father-in-law, please continue."

Zhang Luan continued, "I have asked many people, and they said that our northwest has suffered a disaster, and the disaster on the grassland will only be worse. I heard that the Tartars' livestock have frozen to death and starved to death everywhere, causing them to not even survive this winter, and they can only go south to make a living by looting. I think if we send troops out now, maybe we can..."

Huai En originally thought that Zhang Luan really "understood", but after hearing this, he couldn't listen any longer and couldn't help but interrupt: "Zhang Guozhang, some things need to be considered carefully, and you can't just talk nonsense!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youtang looked at Huai En curiously, as if to say, what do you mean?
I just told you not to interrupt my father-in-law, why are you still interrupting him?
You really don't give me face?
Qin Ji saw that the scene was a bit strange, so he quickly said in a conciliatory tone: "The matter of the war in the northwest is of great importance, and it needs to be discussed at the court meeting."

Zhang Luan waved his hand and said, "I just had this idea and said it casually. It doesn't mean that we must go to war. Is it not enough to just talk about it?"

Huai En was speechless after hearing this.

I thought, maybe you have some resentment in your heart?

Do you think I am interrupting you on purpose to prevent you from expressing your opinions in front of the emperor?

But you totally don't know your limits!
Reminding you, is actually helping you!
Zhu Youtang said, "Huai Daban, I want to ask, if there is really a war in the northwest now, is there a suitable person to take charge of the situation?"

When Huai En heard this question, he immediately became angry and thought, look, it’s all because of you, Zhang Laizhan, who doesn’t know what’s good for him and insists on arousing His Majesty’s cravings. Do you think the emperor would ask such a boring question in the past?
"Your Majesty, deploying troops on the northwest front involves large-scale troop movements, which will involve many things."

Huai En said, "Now that the military affairs of the three borders are vacant, if the governors of various places are used to dispatch troops to the frontier, there will be delays due to problems such as insufficient food and grass, and there will also be big problems in the coordination of the various troops.

"Right now, soldiers everywhere are trying to reduce their activities as much as possible and conserve their energy to get through this cold winter in peace."

Zhu Youtang nodded and looked at Zhang Luan: "Father-in-law, you have heard that the biggest problem facing the troops in the northwest is still the lack of food and clothing."

Huai En looked at Zhang Luan.

I thought to myself, Your Majesty, you don't need to explain this to him at all. I explained this to him halfway on the way, and he expressed his understanding at the time, but he forgot it as soon as he turned around.

Zhang Luan lowered his head, as if intentionally avoiding everyone's gaze, and said to himself: "But I heard that the battles on the northwest front have been going very well in the past few years, and the barbarians on the grassland have long been weakened.

"Now that the new emperor has ascended the throne, the northwest has suffered a disaster and the people are suffering. Those Tartars are ungrateful and are still coming to cause trouble, making the soldiers on the front line suffer even more. I think we must not indulge them."

Huai En frowned: "Zhang Guozhang, let's take a long-term view on these matters."

"I'm afraid that if we bring this up for public discussion at court, officials will pass the buck to each other."

Zhang Luan said, "It may be because the New Year is coming soon. I found that all government offices are very lax. Even in the Ministry of Revenue, no one is willing to help raise money and food for the Northwest soldiers."

Zhu Youtang asked: "Father-in-law, are you saying that you are having trouble raising money and grain? Aren't you the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue? Why are you still..."

Huai En said: "Your Majesty, this time we did not go through the Ministry of Revenue to raise money and grain to relieve the snow disaster in the northwest. Everything depended on Zhang Guozhang's running around. Maybe the people in the Ministry of Revenue did not want to cause trouble.

"Besides, the Ministry of Revenue is currently discussing the salt tax reform bill submitted by Zhang Guozhang earlier, so they may not be able to allocate staff for the time being."

This was also a reminder to the little emperor that he should not believe what Zhang Luan said alone, but should look at the entire situation clearly before making a correct judgment.

Zhang Luan insisted on carrying out some salt administration reform. Although it has not been publicly discussed at the court meeting, the discussion in the Ministry of Revenue is still proceeding normally.

We have to discuss it with the Ministry of Revenue first to determine whether this matter is feasible, and then report it to the Cabinet. After being drafted, it will be submitted to you, the Emperor, for your approval.

Zhang Luan said, "Even if we don't send troops, there has to be someone responsible for transporting money and food to the northwest, right?"

Huai En asked, "Isn't this matter handled by you, Zhang Guozhang?"

"Eunuch Huai, I mean, now that the money and grain have been raised, someone has to escort them to the northwest front, right?" Zhang Luan said, "The grain needs to be transported to the northwest, and there must be people and horses to escort it along the way. Besides, Xuanda and the three borders are not peaceful now. If we just send a grain transport team and it is robbed by foreigners on the way, the soldiers on the front line will continue to starve...Are we transporting grain to the west to help the foreign barbarians survive the winter?"

For a moment, Huai En didn't know how to refute.

Qin Ji smiled and said, "Your Majesty, it seems that the reason why Zhang Guozhang mentioned the instability of the northwestern border is more because he is concerned that this will make it difficult for the emperor's grace to be widely extended to the soldiers in the northwest... He is worried about the lack of protection for the transportation of clothing and food to Xuanda and Sanbian."

Zhu Youtang said, "Father-in-law, what do you think we should do? Huai Daban, do you think we need to send more troops to the northwest front to transport food?"

Huai En said: "Your Majesty, transporting money and grain to the northwest will result in great losses on the road. From the capital to the northwest, the losses and expenses on the road may account for a small half of the total amount. If we add more escorts..."

Zhang Luan sighed, "What I mean is, since the barbarians in the northwest have been rampant this year, and the localities seem unable to take the initiative to resist the barbarians, why not send a group of troops from the capital to escort the grain and grass to the northwest to ensure that the grain arrives smoothly, and to increase the strength of the northwest's defense and achieve the purpose of deterring the barbarians in the grasslands?

"I have limited knowledge and don't know much about military and political affairs. If there is anything wrong with what I said, I hope Your Majesty will forgive me... Eunuch Huai, please don't be offended."

(End of this chapter)