Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 626 Confrontation
Huai En felt the deep malice from Zhang Luan.

You should make the emperor understand you, so that you can show your loyalty to the emperor and the country.

But what do you mean by asking me not to be mad at you?
What you mean is that I will cause you trouble, and you want to treat me as a competitor?
Zhu Youtang immediately showed his inclination and nodded in approval: "Father-in-law, this is a very good idea... We were originally going to send people to escort the grain and grass to the northwest. Now that there are foreign barbarians disturbing the borders of Xuan, Da and Sanbian, it is a good opportunity to strengthen defense. Who do you think is the most suitable person to lead the troops?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Luan immediately turned his gaze towards Qin Ji and Huai En.

Huai En thought to himself, what do you think we are doing?

Even if I wasn't seriously ill, Qin Ji and I are old and frail, so it's not suitable for us to do this.

Although Tan Chang from the Imperial Household Department was also sent to the Northwest, he was much younger than us and looked stronger.

Zhang Luan asked hopefully, "Don't Eunuch Huai and Eunuch Tan have any good candidates?"

Huai En frowned. "Zhang Guozhang, since you brought this up yourself, I'm sure you already have a suitable candidate to recommend to His Majesty, right?"

"Then...should we bring this up at the court meeting?" Zhang Luan looked embarrassed. "I'm afraid if my proposal is not good, people will criticize me."

Huai En was a little puzzled and asked, "Zhang Guozhang should not be the kind of person who would back down because of other people's gossip... When it comes to serving the country and the people, you really shouldn't avoid it. You should speak quickly."

Zhang Luan was quite helpless and said, "It's just a suggestion... As for who to send, I really haven't thought about it yet, and it's not easy to just randomly propose a candidate."

Zhu Youtang seemed to understand Zhang Luan's dilemma and said with a smile: "It is a good idea to draw personnel from the Beijing camp to transport food to the northwest and deter foreign invaders at the border.

"As for who will lead the troops, we can discuss it later. However, if you really have a good candidate, you don't have to hide it. After all, you raised the money and food."

"hehe."

Zhang Luan smiled and shook his head, "I'd rather not mention it."

Huai En and Qin Ji looked at each other.

They didn't seem to understand. Zhang Luan mentioned it but didn't mention it. What exactly did he want to do? They were confused for a moment.

……

……

This time when Zhang Luan left the palace, Qin Ji was responsible for seeing him off.

On the way, Qin Ji raised his doubts in the tone of "one of our own", "Zhang Guozhang, since you proposed this matter, but you don't put forward your candidate, what are you going to do?"

Zhang Luan shrugged: "I said it before, I'm afraid of being criticized."

"Then... if you are afraid of being criticized, why do you still make such a suggestion?"

Qin Ji felt that Zhang Luan was different from himself. At least this father-in-law was not afraid of trouble.

Zhang Luan said helplessly: "Alas, I am afraid of being impeached... As a relative by marriage, I have to be restrained in the court, otherwise I will definitely be criticized to death, so I have become cautious in doing things."

Tan Ji said: "You call this looking ahead and looking back?"

"Why, isn't it?"

Zhang Luan was somewhat puzzled and explained, "Eunuch Tan, I think you know how to protect yourself. I am learning from you."

"..."

Qin Ji was speechless and thought to himself, don't drag me into this.

The two walked forward in silence for a while, and Qin Ji finally couldn't help but said, "Zhang Guozhang, you are different from me in your foresight and consideration."

"oh!?"

Zhang Luan asked respectfully: "I would like to hear the details."

Qin Ji looked a little haggard, and said, "You seem to be cautious, but it seems that everything you do has a hidden purpose. I was cautious in that I never looked at or mentioned it from the beginning, and I would not get involved in it for no reason. How can you be said to be cautious when you care about everything and never avoid it?"

Zhang Luan seemed to be thinking about something, and asked, "Eunuch Tan, do you mean that I am not afraid of trouble, so I can't be considered as playing it safe? In fact, I am also worried. Many things are not my initiative. I am simply forced to do so by those behind me. I have no choice but to do so."

"You mean... Your Majesty?"

Qin Ji had actually already thought of it, and it was most likely Zhang Luan's son, the little uncle of the emperor, who was secretly pushing it.

But when the words came to his lips, he was embarrassed to say them.

Zhang Luan twirled his beard and said righteously, "It's purely because of the sense of justice in my heart that I serve my country and my people. Many things are my duty."

"..."

Qin Ji became even more speechless.

He thought to himself, as your position in the court becomes more secure, we find it increasingly difficult to communicate with you.

Listen, is this human language?

Zhang Luan added: "Of course, I do this mostly for myself. My son doesn't want me to be too ordinary."

Qin Ji thought to himself, you finally said something sensible, and immediately said: "Little uncle is indeed concerned about the country and the people. You two are truly the pillars of the Ming Dynasty, and you are worthy of respect and admiration!"

……

...Wenyuan Pavilion.

Cabinet value.

Huai'en brought Qin Ji and Li Rong to discuss some local affairs with the cabinet ministers. The emperor was not satisfied with some of the draft bills and they needed to be redrafted.

In fact, Zhu Youtang had no opinion on this matter at all, and it was more that Huai En intended to put pressure on the cabinet.

Whether the emperor was satisfied or not was not important. The key point was that Huai En suggested to the emperor that the cabinet had not been able to achieve perfection in some of its draft proposals and should reconsider them.

At this internal and external communication meeting, Huai En clearly stated that the court intended to send people to escort grain and fodder to the northwest to deter the Tatars.

Liu Ji asked, "Eunuch Huai, do you mean that His Majesty intends to send the Chief Censor and the General to lead troops to the northwest? Is this an opportunity to strike a blow against the Diyi people?

"There are some bad rumors coming from the northwest border this year. It seems that there are more reports of border disturbances than in previous years, but it won't be enough to... start a war, right?"

Huai En had a mysterious smile on his face and asked, "Why not? Isn't it right to stabilize the border?"

Liu Ji said, "But... the current conditions do not allow it... How much silver does a war cost? We only transported 200,000 dan of grain to the northwest, and how much grain and money would it cost to transfer a group of troops to the northwest? This does not even include the subsequent expenses. If we can't control it, I'm afraid that this winter, the little money in our treasury will be completely destroyed."

Huai En asked coldly: "Then we have to ask Elder Liu, how much wealth is left in the court now?"

"This one……"

Liu Ji nodded and said, "The treasury is empty, and the officials in the court are struggling to make ends meet during the New Year. Didn't they say that a batch of natural rice would be distributed before the New Year? Eunuch Huai, can this be implemented? People below are asking about it."

According to Liu Ji's intention.

The officials of the Ming Dynasty didn’t even receive their New Year salaries, yet they were still thinking about sending troops to the northwest to fight?
What do you want to do?
Huai En said: "For this war, there are big ways to fight big battles and small ways to fight small battles. It may not be necessary to start a war, but since your majesty is willing to promote this matter, Liu Ge Lao might as well let the various departments discuss it privately, especially connect with the Ministry of War to see if there is a suitable candidate who can complete your majesty's instructions while saving money."

After hearing this, Liu Ji looked evasive.

Given his personality, it would be best if nothing happened. Why does he even want me to communicate with the Ministry of War and related government offices?
I’m sorry, if I, Liu Mianhua, was really that serious and responsible, I wouldn’t be scolded until now.

Xu Pu asked, "May I ask, Eunuch Huai, how many troops does Your Majesty want to send to the northwest?"

Huai En said: "We don't necessarily need a lot of people, but we still need 10,000 people, right?"

Xu Pu analyzed seriously: "Then let's do some calculations. This trip to the northwest will take at least three months. According to the wartime ration of two liters per soldier, a soldier will need nearly two dan of grain in three months. Ten thousand people will need 20,000 dan. This does not include the wear and tear of the march, the expenses of weapons and ammunition, and the daily military salary... If we add it up, the cost should be around 50,000 dan."

Huai En nodded and said, "This time we are escorting 200,000 shi of grain to the northwest. It is reasonable to spend 50,000 shi to transport and guarantee the expenses of the war on the northwest front, right?"

Xu Pu frowned and said, "Eunuch Huai, are you testing us? Let's not talk about the cost of transporting these soldiers, just the cost of transporting livestock and fodder to the northwest, as well as the cost of laborers, etc. I'm afraid that with such a large-scale transportation, the last 200,000 dan of grain will not be enough to cover the losses."

Liu Ji, however, had a different view and refuted: "Brother Shi Yong, this is where you are wrong... Didn't you hear clearly? This is what His Majesty meant.

"Besides, can't we just use these 10,000 troops to transport food and fodder? Why would we need to incur so much loss in vain?"

Xu Pu didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and explained: "This batch of grain is not grain for the imperial court, so the loss during the journey must be huge. Moreover, 200,000 dan of grain, with 10,000 soldiers to transport it, each person has to transport 20 dan. Is that possible?"

One stone of grain in the Ming Dynasty was about 160 to 170 kilograms, and 20 stones was more than 3,000 kilograms. It was obviously impossible for one soldier to transport so much grain.

In fact, the court basically used civilians and laborers to transport food to the northwest front.

After all, young and middle-aged people in the Ming Dynasty had to perform labor service every year.

Although corvée labor was free, we could not expect all the laborers to provide their own food, especially for such a long assignment as going to the northwest. Basic food and clothing must be guaranteed.

Liu Ji said angrily, "Hey, why are you talking so unpleasantly? We have to send people to escort them anyway, so why not add 18,000 people?"

Huai En squinted his eyes, as if he was watching the fun.

Not to mention Huai En, even Qin Ji and Li Rong could see that the current Prime Minister Liu Ji had difficulty gaining the support of the people in the cabinet.

Even Xu Pu did not submit to Liu Ji, and Liu Ji seemed to have no way to deal with Xu Pu. He could only use a condescending tone to make Xu Pu shut up.

Huai En said: "The Tatars are restless, so it's not a bad idea to take this opportunity to give them a beating. We need to discuss who will go and how large the scale will be.

"You two, why don't you go to the Ministry of War and the Five Military Commanders' Office to negotiate. Even if you think it is unnecessary to send troops, you should also provide specific reasons for your opposition. Talking here... is useless."

Even if you want to oppose it, you have to provide arguments and make the emperor feel that it is inappropriate to do so.

What's the use of telling me?

I am here to convey the emperor's opinion, not to listen to your complaints.

Xu Pu said, "I really don't know why this idea came up... The festival is coming soon, and the whole court is in mourning. If we wait until the beginning of next spring to send troops, I can understand it, but it is not appropriate now."

Huai En thought to himself, this is exactly your attitude.

It doesn’t matter whether Liu Ji supports or opposes it.

But you, Xu Pu, represent the power of orthodox civil servants. As long as you raise objections, you will naturally stand on the opposite side of Zhang Luan, and you can ensure that Zhang Luan will not act recklessly.

My main purpose in conveying this message is to create an irreconcilable contradiction for you.

The pioneers in resisting the chaos caused by foreign relatives cannot be us, the emperor's slaves who were born as eunuchs, but should be you, the Confucian officials who claim to be righteous!

(End of this chapter)