Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 635 Wrangling
Fengtian Temple.

Zhu Youtang could no longer hold back, so he stood up and asked loudly, "Does Wang Qing mean that Zhu Yong and Li Zisheng are not qualified for this job?"

Previously, Huai'en responded to the questions from Xu Pu and Ma Wensheng. Now that the Minister of Personnel Wang Shu was speaking, it could be considered an equality of status for the emperor to respond.

Zhu Youtang was already very polite when he asked this question.

He did not directly rebuke Wang Shu for openly questioning the emperor and the father-in-law, but only asked whether he doubted the ability of Zhu Yong and Li Zisheng, which gave Wang Shu a way out.

After all, the premise of Wang Shu's words was that "these two people are not right."

Wang Shu was a little frightened by the emperor's reaction, and bowed and said, "These two may be able to complete the task of transporting money, food and supplies, but they may not be able to lead the troops in the northwest to resist foreign humiliation.

"I ask Your Majesty to remove Li Zisheng, the provincial censor, and Zhu Yong, the military commander, from their posts, and only use them to transport food and fodder, and not to interfere with the specific deployment of troops in the military garrisons."

Wang Shu meant that you asked Li Zisheng and Zhu Yong to go to the northwest to deliver military uniforms and transport food. I have no objection, but asking Li Zisheng and Zhu Yong to coordinate troops from various places to fight the Tartars is clearly beyond their capabilities.

Huai En asked in confusion: "Minister Wang, in your opinion, these two are not capable of leading troops to resist the enemy, so why do you want them to coordinate the transportation of food and supplies? In addition, Li Zisheng has no experience as a chief censor, but the Duke of Baoguo has led troops to the grasslands many times and was invincible. Why do you think he doesn't have this ability?"

Wang Shu said: "In the matter of using troops, a good general and commander are indispensable. If Li Zisheng is the commander, his strength is not enough; if Zhu Yong is the commander, it is not in accordance with the law. Therefore, it is difficult for the two to work together to drive out the foreign barbarians, let alone pacify the border."

Zhu Youtang's expression became more and more unhappy, but he didn't say anything.

According to his habits in dealing with people over the years, it was normal for him to accept what was given to him. Even if he was dissatisfied, he still did not have the confidence to completely refute the opinions of his subjects.

Especially since he knew that Wang Shu in front of him was a man of high moral character and prestige, and had said so much, and had also stood up on behalf of so many civil officials in the court to oppose it, if he went against him, it would be like making an enemy of all the officials.

So he didn't have the courage to continue.

Huai En turned around and asked, "Your Majesty, according to Minister Wang's intention, it is fine to send Li Zisheng and Zhu Yong to escort food and supplies to the west. However, if the two of them are used to lead the troops to resist the enemy, it will damage the military prestige of the Ming Dynasty. It is better to let the governors and generals of various places coordinate and lead the dispatch of troops."

This was told to Zhu Youtang clearly.

Now it is a question of who to respect on the front line.

If the Tatars really invade the border, should we listen to the governors and generals of each town, or to Li Zisheng and Zhu Yong?
If we listen to Li Zisheng, it means that Li Zisheng's authority will be higher than that of the governors of various towns, and he will be the uncrowned general of the three borders.

But if Li Zisheng followed the orders of the governors of various towns, it seemed that there would not be any major problems.

Zhu Youtang asked, "Huai Daban, what do you think?"

It was obvious that Zhu Youtang had lost his own opinion at this moment.

He wanted to insist, but couldn't convince his ministers, so he could only seek compromise and let Huai En come up with a compromise.

Huai En said, "In my opinion, Li Zisheng's position as the Chief Censor will remain unchanged, and Zhu Yong will be appointed as the General of Ningxia to transport food and supplies to Ningxia and return; Zhu Yong will remain in Ningxia and will be recalled only after the harassment and hidden dangers of foreign barbarians have been completely quelled. As for Li Zisheng... after completing this assignment, he can be recalled to the capital for further employment."

When Zhu Youtang heard this, he was stunned for a moment, obviously not understanding the meaning of it.

But the ministers present all felt Huai En's "experience".

What do you mean by opposition or not? You civil officials really don't give the emperor face!

Do you have to sing the opposite tune?

In my opinion, Li Zisheng should continue to be the Chief Censor and Zhu Yong should continue to be the Commander-in-Chief...it's just a different pattern.

Li Zisheng, the Chief Censor, was not above the governors of the border towns, that is to say, they were on the same level... Li Zisheng could only dispatch troops to transport grain to the northwest, and when it came to matters such as dispatching troops to local areas, he had to listen to the local governors.

Either you, Li Zisheng, have the ability to use these three thousand troops to fight the Tartars directly, instead of dispatching troops from local areas.

Or you should just stop interfering in the military affairs of the Northwest and just honestly complete your task of transporting military uniforms, cloth, and food.

As for Zhu Yong, it is even simpler.

Zhu Yong's honorary position was directly changed to a real one. His 3,000 troops were also reinforcements transferred from the capital to Ningxia to assist in defending against foreign invaders. They just "happened to pass through" the territories of the northwestern towns. If they encountered foreign invasions on the way, Zhu Yong could cooperate with Li Zisheng, the temporary Chief Censor, to resist them.

If they don't meet them on the way, Zhu Yong and his three thousand troops will stay at their destination Ningxia first. After the Tatars' invasion momentum subsides, they will be recalled to the capital.

At this time, Liu Ji suddenly stepped out of the queue and asked, "Since Zhu Yongwei has been appointed as the commander-in-chief of Ningxia, why not also give Li Zisheng the position of governor of Ningxia, let him stay in the northwest temporarily, and then appoint him again after the situation has completely calmed down?"

When this proposal came out, many people present looked at it with disgust.

I thought, Liu Ji, are you asking this question even though you already know the answer?
Zhu Yong has made outstanding military achievements, so he is naturally qualified for the position of General of Ningxia, but is he, Li Zisheng, capable of being the Governor of Ningxia?

The reason why he was given the post of Chief Censor was simply because the emperor had already made such an appointment and it was embarrassing for him to withdraw the order.

If you don't give the emperor face, we will not make concessions, and we will even want to take back Li Zisheng's position as the Chief Censor.

Huai En frowned and asked, "Lord Liu, do you think that Li Zisheng will hinder the cabinet's affairs after he returns to the court, so you want to keep him in the northwest for a long time and not let him come back?"

This question was like a knife stabbing Liu Ji in the forehead. It didn't give him any face at all!
You, Liu Ji, don't jump out and force yourself to step forward at this time, making it seem as if you are on the same side as the emperor and speaking for the emperor.

Don't think we don't know. You say this just because you are afraid that Li Zisheng will come back.

Liu Ji argued, "Eunuch Huai, what is your opinion? Nowadays, there are foreign invaders in all the nine borders, not to mention the northwest, even Ji and Liao are the same. Why not appoint Li Zisheng as the governor of Ningxia?"

Ma Wensheng immediately refuted: "It is against the law and logic for a Tongzhengshi who was born as a Taoist priest to be transferred directly to the northwest to serve as a governor. No one has ever been transferred like this before."

Zhu Youtang finally understood what was going on when he heard this. He shook his head and smiled bitterly, saying, "I finally understand... In your opinion, Li Zisheng is not even qualified to be a governor, let alone coordinate with the troops in the northwest to resist the invasion of the Tatars. So in the final analysis, you still think that I have made the wrong choice."

The whole place was silent now.

Even if what the emperor said was true, and they did oppose the emperor's employment of people, they could see that the emperor was almost angry and humiliated, so no one was embarrassed to stand up and say anything.

"But……"

Zhu Youtang added, "If someone else went to the northwest, would anyone listen to my father-in-law's advice? My father-in-law wants to help the court win the victory against foreign invaders, who can willingly accept his advice?"

When these words were spoken, all the ministers were stunned.

It seems that Your Majesty, you do not trust Li Zisheng, but think that Li Zisheng will obey Zhang Luan's words, which indirectly means...you are only listening to and trusting that father-in-law Zhang?

Wang Shu frowned and said bluntly, "Your Majesty, is it so important whether others listen to Minister Zhang's advice or not, and what Minister Zhang thinks about the military affairs of the northwest?
"If Minister Zhang's opinion is really enough to change the situation in the northwest, why didn't he bring it up in the court? Why is he not here at such an important occasion today?"

Wang Shu's words seemed to be a direct attack on Zhang Luan.

He had previously exercised restraint.

But seeing the emperor's true colors revealed and his immense trust in his father-in-law, even Wang Shu, who had gradually become more worldly-wise, could not help himself.

Zhu Youtang asked: "If my father-in-law knew where the Tatars would attack from by calculating the secrets of heaven and could make arrangements to resist them in advance, how many of the military governors in the northwest would listen to him?"

When the ministers present heard this, they were all confused.

I was thinking.

Your Majesty, you are talking nonsense to us, aren't you?

We talk to you about state affairs and northwest military affairs, and you talk to us about the secrets of heaven and matters of ghosts and gods?

Is this the imperial court, or the site of a Taoist ceremony?

It almost makes us speechless, okay?

Among so many people at the scene, the person who was most shocked to hear this was Huai En.

Apparently Lian Huai'en had not expected that the emperor was determined to appoint Li Zisheng for this very reason and did not listen to the opinions of the court ministers... So there was such a reason behind this?
Zhu Youtang said, "I know that it is hard for you to believe this, but I believe in my father-in-law's ability. Just like this time last year, he said there would be an earthquake in Ningxia, and then he said there would be an earthquake in Mount Tai, but no one believed him. What would be the result? If everything he said comes true this time, but no one is willing to listen, will the opportunity to defeat the enemy be missed in vain?"

Wang Shu was almost laughing with anger, and said, "Your Majesty, it seems that you must invite Minister Zhang to the court meeting. I want to talk to him face to face."

At this point, Wang Shu could no longer hold back and wanted to call Zhang Luan to question him: What kind of love potion did you give the emperor to make him believe you so much?

"I don't think it's necessary."

Zhu Youtang waved his hand.

Liu Ji began to make sarcastic remarks: "From famous alchemists to street lunatics, anyone with a little bit of Taoism likes to speculate about the future, and they all say that it is easy to predict the future, but difficult to read people's hearts.

"Now even Zhang Guozhang dares to say that he can guess the Tatars' military strategy. Does he have the ability to spy on other people's hearts from a thousand miles away? Haha."

These words clearly did not support the emperor, but were a naked mockery of Zhang Luan.

Huai En glared at Liu Ji fiercely.

Obviously, Liu Ji, a fence-sitter, is no longer recognized by any force in the court.

Qin Ji had been silent until now, but seeing the chaos, he quickly stepped out and said, "My Lords, let me say something. Even if you don't trust Zhang Guozhang or Minister Li, why not let them give it a try?
"The Tatars have been attacking us time and again. If someone could foresee their intentions and nip their conspiracy in the bud, that would be a good thing."

Huai En dissuaded him, "Eunuch Tan, you'd better not say anything."

I was almost asking, why are you, Qin Ji, coming out to cause trouble at this time?

Qin Ji was very stubborn and continued, "The food and grass were collected by Zhang Guozhang from all over the place, and the cloth was woven in the palace by the loom improved by Zhang Guojiu. Now that we have the things, we just need to find someone to send them to the northwest. Who should send them and how should they be sent? What's wrong with listening to Zhang Guozhang and his son?"
"My Lords, you are capable of governing the country, but... you can't even help the court with the food and cloth that the soldiers on the front lines urgently need, and now you are discussing this. Aren't you... too stubborn?

"I am an old fool with little experience in governing. My words may not sound pleasant to the ear, but I am just expressing my true thoughts. If you really think that Zhang Guozhang's actions are inappropriate, then why don't you raise the food and grass for the future? Don't let Zhang Guozhang run around for this? As far as I know, he is really injured and has been working hard for state affairs!"

(End of this chapter)