Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 633 Zhang Da Puppet
When Qin Ji came to visit, Zhang Yanling had already gone out to do some business.

Zhang Luan sat in the front hall, looking relaxed and contented, which made Qin Ji somewhat confused.

"Zhang Guozhang, I don't mean to contradict you, but why do you say this?"

Qin Ji said with an attitude of "I am just giving you good advice" and "Don't be angry".

Zhang Luan asked in surprise: "Why bother? Helping His Majesty and striving for opportunities for the soldiers on the front lines to make achievements, isn't this what I should do as a court official?"

Qin Ji nodded and thought, you are awesome.

You are number one when it comes to getting into trouble.

I can't even help you.

Qin Ji asked, "Then... has Zhang Guozhang decided on a specific candidate to lead the army? This has been discussed many times. His Majesty wants you to recommend someone to take the top position... but don't say anyone can do it. His Majesty wants a candidate who can ensure the court's victory in the war against the foreign invaders!"

Zhang Luan said decisively: "I have considered it, and I will choose Zhu Yong, the Duke of Baoguo."

"Cough cough..."

Upon hearing this, Qin Ji couldn't help but cough violently.

Zhang Luan was surprised by Qin Ji's performance and asked curiously, "Eunuch Qin, what's wrong with you? Do you think this person is not suitable?"

Tan Ji said helplessly: "No, it's fine."

But I was thinking in my heart, you went to so much trouble and refused to recommend a candidate even after the emperor asked you several times, and you still thought that your final choice would be so incredible.

So you recommended the ever-victorious general Zhu Yong?

You don't need to make this kind of recommendation, everyone in the court can do it.

Zhang Luan explained: "After I came back, I repeatedly weighed the pros and cons. Zhu Yong, the Duke of Baoguo, led and participated in many expeditions to the grasslands during the Chenghua period. He can be regarded as the court's top general. If we ask him to escort the grain and grass, we don't need to bring too many soldiers to form a deterrent to the Tatars."

Qin Ji nodded silently.

Zhu Yongnai was the only person during the Chenghua period who was promoted to Duke because of his military merits. It was not an exaggeration for Zhang Luan to say that he had such influence.

After receiving confirmation from Zhang Luan, Qin Ji stood up and said, "Since this is the case, I will go back and report to His Majesty."

Zhang Luan stood up and prepared to see the guest off, but he politely asked, "Will you sit for a while?"

"We have to play it back quickly."

As Qin Ji walked out, he said, "Perhaps the order to mobilize troops will be issued tonight. Do you have a detailed proposal?"

"Ah? You mean to say that I have to submit a formal memorial regarding the imperial court's dispatch of troops, right?"

Zhang Luan seemed to have expected this. He took something out of his pocket and handed it to Qin Ji, saying, "Please take it and give it to His Majesty."

Qin Ji was stunned for a moment. Since you had prepared it long ago, why didn’t you take it out before?
Is this a joke?
Zhang Luan was puzzled and said, "Didn't you ask me for a detailed proposal just now? I have listed it all down here. It clearly states how many troops the court will send and how much food will be escorted.

"The second batch of grain is for Ji and the two towns of Liao. There is no need to take it west this time. As for the third batch of money and grain, it will probably take until the spring to raise it. We will discuss how to transport it then."

Qin Ji held the memorial in his hand. As a man who did not like to meddle in other people's affairs, he really wanted to open it and take a look at it with his own eyes. He thought to himself, I wonder what brilliant ideas Zhang Laizhan has?
You've only been home for a short time, and you've already come up with a military plan?

Do you think I would believe that you wrote this?

Was it your son who drafted it for you in advance?
"Eunuch Tan?"

Zhang Luan looked at Tan Ji, who was in a daze, curiously.

Qin Ji finally regained his composure, shook his head and smiled bitterly, "I'll take it back and present it to His Majesty... Oh, by the way, why can't I see the Second Young Master?"

"Hey, that kid, I don't know what he's busy with every day. Today I was surprised that he was waiting for me at home, but he just left after talking to me."

Zhang Luan finished explaining and then asked, "I wonder what you want to see him about, Eunuch Qin?"

Qin Ji thought that it would be great if I could find someone who knows the business to go into the palace with me and make some explanations in front of the emperor.

If it means taking you, Zhang Luan, into the palace... then there is no need for that.

Because I know very well that if you, Zhang Luan, were really capable, you would have said all that you should have said when you met the emperor before. Why would you have to go back home and go through so much trouble?
Tan Ji shook his head and said, "It's okay."

Zhang Luan suddenly remembered something and said loudly: "Eunuch Qin, this is it, I have just raised a batch of money and grain, although it is not enough to pay all the salaries of officials in Beijing, but at least they can spend a stable year.

"I have listed the detailed figures... and here is a memorial. Please submit it to Your Majesty."

"This……"

Tan Ji was a little confused for a moment.

Is it true that the payment of salaries to court officials has to be financed by you, Zhang Luan?
Zhang Luan said: "It's also my fault that I'm incompetent... I've been the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue for so long, but I haven't made any achievements in the Ministry of Revenue. But the New Year is coming soon, and the expenditure of the Ming Dynasty Treasury should not be that large for a while. I think this money and grain can allow my colleagues to have a good New Year.

"However, the specific distribution method still depends on your majesty's wishes, so I will list them first and let your majesty make a choice."

Qin Ji asked quickly, "Willn't the Yellow River project start soon after the New Year? Wouldn't it be better to save this money and grain for then?" "Oh."

Zhang Luan said casually, "That's a separate matter, there's no need to mix them up."

Tan Ji seemed speechless.

I thought to myself, “I’ll figure it out later.”

You mean to say that you are planning to set up another court outside the imperial court?

The Ming Dynasty originally had the Ministry of Revenue and the Imperial Household, but you have to add another "Zhangku"? How much salary the Ming Dynasty officials can get depends on how much silver you have stored in your Zhangku?
Aren't you asking for trouble?
No matter how honest you are, others will think that you are embezzling the money.

Who would believe that the money in your warehouse was earned by your own ability?

Most likely you got the money through illegal means such as abusing your power for personal gain and selling official positions, right?
Other people who are officials all follow the rules, for fear of causing trouble, but you are different. As an official... you are afraid of not causing trouble!

……

……

Qianqing Palace.

Huai'en and Qin Ji were both present, and Zhu Youtang read the memorial submitted by Zhang Luan on the spot.

Huai En was very curious about what Zhang Luan specifically mentioned in his memorial.

Zhu Youtang first handed one of the copies to Huai En and instructed: "Huai Daban, please follow the list above and distribute the rice salaries for the officials in Beijing to spend the winter. Some of them have been converted into silver. Please distribute them together in the two days before the New Year."

Huai En suggested: "Your Majesty, a batch of money has already been distributed before the New Year, which is enough for the New Year. If there is really any surplus, why not keep it first... for emergency use?"

Hey, can I ask Zhang Luan to use money and food to sell favors?

joke!

The Ming Dynasty actually relied on a relative to pay salaries to its ministers?
If this were to be told to others, it would probably make everyone in the world, and even future historians, laugh out loud!
Zhu Youtang explained: "The previous salary was too little. Now that my father has just passed away, if I can't even guarantee the basic living of the officials in the court, how can I give them orders in the court? What qualifications do I have to ask them to work hard for the court?

"My father-in-law is right. Sometimes I have to consider other people's difficulties and not assume that they can get by."

Huai En took Zhang Luan's memorial on the distribution of money and grain and asked curiously, "Your Majesty, since Zhang Guozhang had already made preparations, why didn't he mention it when he entered the palace?"

Zhu Youtang had a happy look on his face: "My father-in-law came to the palace today because he was invited by the Empress Dowager to chat with me. I called him here temporarily, and I think this matter was not well planned at that time. I will report it to you after my father-in-law returns and arranges everything. My father-in-law has always been very serious and careful in doing things, and he is really a role model for us."

Huai En almost vomited blood.

How much do you admire your father-in-law that you always think the best of him?
Have you ever thought that this person is nothing but a useless person, a puppet manipulated by Li Zisheng and controlled by his son?
Huai En took the initiative to change the subject and asked, "Then Your Majesty, how many troops will be drawn from the Beijing Camp to assist the Duke of Baoguo in his western expedition?"

"Don't talk about the Western Expedition."

Zhu Youtang immediately corrected him, "Just tell the public that we are transporting grain. How about this? We will dispatch 3,000 infantrymen and 10,000 civilian laborers to the northwest, and have the guard posts along the way, such as Juyongguan and Huaihua, dispatch personnel to coordinate with them."

Huai En asked: "There are only 3,000 troops. Is that a little too few?"

Zhu Youtang nodded: "It sounds a little small, but can the court afford to support a larger number of infantry? As Huai Daban said, no matter what you do, you have to save money. After the troops go west, they can dispatch the garrisons along the way to cooperate. I think there should be no trouble before reaching Xuanfu, right?"

Qin Ji said quickly, "Yes, Your Majesty, no matter how bold the Tatars are, they are far from looting near Juyong Pass. Dispatching troops from the inner pass of the Great Wall and other places to cooperate is indeed the best option at the moment."

Zhu Youtang smiled and said, "My father-in-law also meant that. He said that we should let the troops from all places cooperate with the troops under the Duke of Baoguo to patrol the border... For example, within the territory of Xuanfu Town, the troops from Xuanfu will cooperate with the patrol. After leaving Xuanfu, the troops from Datong Town will assist. After leaving Datong Town, the troops from Pianguan will cooperate...

"The troops from various places received the food from their towns. In addition to ensuring that it was transported back as soon as possible and distributed to the soldiers in a timely manner, they also cooperated with the troops under the jurisdiction of the Duke of Baoguo. Once the Tatars attacked, they would unconditionally cooperate with the Duke of Baoguo to stop the Tatars."

Huai En said worriedly: "Such a complicated patrol mission may be difficult for the officers of each town to follow. Especially when it comes to the coordination in the border area between the two towns, it is even more complicated."

Qin Ji echoed, "Yes, Your Majesty, what Eunuch Huai said makes sense. The generals in the Northwest have always had a bad habit of shirking responsibility for some ambiguous matters."

Zhu Youtang shook his head: "If you can't even perform the most basic border patrol mission, how can you mobilize more troops to complete the important military missions entrusted by the court?
"Haven't Tan Chang and Li Zisheng already arrived in the northwest? They are ahead of the others. After receiving the imperial edict, they will communicate with the local authorities first. This shouldn't be too difficult, right?"

Huai En thought, maybe this is the intention behind letting Li Zisheng command the troops as a civil official?
Qin Ji, who was standing beside him, immediately smiled and complimented: "That's good... Although Li Zisheng has no actual experience in leading troops, he, like Eunuch Qin, has extensive connections in the northwest. It would be great if they could communicate with us and make arrangements and support in advance."

Huai En almost wanted to curse.

You old bastard, where do you stand?
Is it your feelings that make you stir up trouble here and act as a flatterer to adjust the atmosphere?
Zhu Youtang said: "Now that the matter has been decided, the food should be shipped in time, and we should set off early tomorrow morning.

"Huai Daban, please inform the Duke of Baoguo and ask him to dispatch troops from the Beijing camp and set off tomorrow morning without any delay."

Huai En said worriedly, "Your Majesty, if we set off in such a hurry, I'm afraid the soldiers in the Beijing camp will not have enough time to prepare."

Zhu Youtang sighed, "The New Year is coming soon. It is not very friendly to the conscripted soldiers to send them west at this time. But it can comfort the soldiers on the northwest front and keep the border of Ming Dynasty peaceful. What's the harm? Give each soldier one ounce of silver to settle down. My father-in-law has thought of this a long time ago."

Huai En thought that if things went well, three thousand taels of silver could be exchanged for two thousand dan of glutinous rice.

Just give it to soldiers as New Year's bonus?

Zhang Luan, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue who was in charge of raising money and grain, was quite knowledgeable.

(End of this chapter)