Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 654 The Unpredictable Prophet
In the Qianqing Palace.

Zhang Luan sat there with a haggard look on his face, coughing occasionally, as if he wanted to tell others that his condition was very serious and he had come into the palace today dragging his sick body.

Huai'en and Qin Ji were both there that day, and Zhu Youtang's main purpose in calling Zhang Luan was not to chat about family matters, but to inform Zhang Luan of the latest situation in the northwest.

"Father-in-law, you said earlier that the Tatars might invade from 40 miles north of Piantou Pass, so Huai Daban took the initiative to sort out the reports from military towns such as Shanxi and Datong, but found no signs of Tatar activities... You speculated that they invaded from here, but what is the basis for it?"

Zhu Youtang asked seriously.

After hearing this, Zhang Luan cursed in his heart.

I thought to myself, it's you, Huai En, who is sowing discord behind the scenes again, deliberately creating a rift between the father-in-law and the son-in-law in front of me, the son-in-law, so that I can ask me about the situation?

Besides, that was what my son said, not me. If you want to know the specifics... it would be right to ask my son to answer.

Zhang Luan tried to recall the scene when he talked to his son about the military situation in the northwest. While organizing his thoughts, he said, "Your Majesty, the situation is actually like this. The Hetao area is still under the control of our Ming Dynasty, and the Tatars dare not enter the Hetao area casually.

"If they invade the border, they will definitely not take the southern route where Taiyuan Town is located. There are a lot of troops there, and if they go too deep, they will be easily surrounded. They can only advance along the northern route where Datong Town is located. Invading the border from Pianguan is their best option."

Zhu Youtang nodded and said, "Father-in-law, what you said makes sense. But how could you know that they would attack from this direction at the beginning of the year?"

"This one……"

This time Zhang Luan was completely unable to answer.

Because his son had never told him before. If he said in front of the emperor that this was his own calculation, or that his son had calculated it with his fingers, and it didn't come true, wouldn't that be tantamount to destroying his own reputation?
Seeing Zhang Luan's hesitation, Huai En smiled and helped him out: "Your Majesty, I think this should be the conclusion that Zhang Guozhang inferred based on the actual situation at the border."

"Ah."

Zhu Youtang didn't seem to be too bothered by this question. He sighed and said, "Father-in-law, what do you think about the border defense?"

Zhang Luan said, "Your Majesty, in my opinion, although the northwest is protected by the Great Wall, there are too few fortresses connecting them. If we can build more fortresses and station troops in them, the key passes can form a response, which will definitely form a better deterrent and defense against the Tatars."

During the Chenghua period of the Ming Dynasty, Yu Zijun began to build the Yansui Fortress. It was not until the Jiajing period that border fortresses were built in Datong, Pianguan and other places after the Tatars rose to power and threatened the safety of the capital.

Before this, the northwest of the Ming Dynasty had only the long Great Wall as a symbol of defense, and it was impossible to take into account many remote areas. When the Tatars invaded, the government troops mostly stayed in the larger city walls and were unable to expand the defense area. As a result, small groups of cavalry often climbed over the Great Wall by chiseling walls, piling up logs to form a gentle slope, and appeared inside the outer city walls.

Zhu Youtang said, "When I was the crown prince, I heard from the teachers in the East Palace that if we want to build a castle in the northwest, it will cost a huge amount of money and we will have to increase the number of soldiers and armor. The cost will increase rapidly, which will make the already tight reserves in the northwest even worse."

Zhang Luan shook his head and said, "After all, it's still because we're short of money."

Zhu Youtang said, "I just received a report from the Duke of Baoguo. He is escorting a lot of grain on his way to the northwest. Even if he goes through Neiguan, the journey will not be smooth. He has already requested to delay the trip to Pianguan for a few days. Do you think there is a problem, father-in-law?"

Zhang Luan was immediately furious when he heard this, as if his illness had instantly healed. He blew his beard and glared, saying, "Your Majesty, the Tartars are coming and going in a hurry. It is best to intercept them in time. If we allow them to plunder the people's property and successfully escape, then what practical significance does it have for Zhu Yong to go to the northwest?"

"Yes."

Zhu Youtang nodded and immediately said to Huai En, "Send an order to the Duke of Baoguo immediately, and tell him to put aside the matter of escorting grain and grass and rush to Pianguan as soon as possible. There can be no delay for a moment."

"Yes."

Although Huai En felt that the order was a bit unreliable, he still had to bow and obey.

Zhang Luan suddenly remembered his son's reminder, and then said, "Your Majesty, I have something to ask for your approval."

Zhu Youtang said: "Father-in-law, there is no need to be so polite. Just speak directly."

Zhang Luan said, "It is like this. I heard that the former Weining Earl Wang Yue had been through hundreds of battles and was very experienced in resisting foreign humiliation. He was also very capable. But now he has been exiled to a foreign land and has not been able to return home to spend his remaining years. It is really pitiful."

"Oh."

Zhu Youtang looked at Huai En and asked, "Huai Daban, is this true?"

Huai'en was a little confused for a moment and couldn't help but glance at Qin Ji. He obviously suspected that the matter of Wang Yue's petition for pardon was revealed to Zhang Luan by Qin Ji.

Huai En said: "It is true. Wang Yue was banished to Anlu by the late emperor for committing crimes. Now several years have passed. But he has always been a meritorious minister. During the time of the late emperor, he made many memorials to defend himself, but the late emperor said that this person was too utilitarian, liked to take risks, and was reckless, which was not conducive to the stability of the northwest."

Zhu Youtang nodded and said, "It doesn't matter what tactics he uses. Even if there are occasional risks, his military achievements are real. If he just wants to be pardoned and return home, we can totally help him do so."

"Yes."

Huai En immediately bowed.

Zhu Youtang asked, "Father-in-law, are you just pleading for him?"

Zhang Luan said, "Your Majesty, I have never had any dealings with this man, and we don't even have any friendship to speak of. I just think that now that the new emperor has ascended the throne and the northwest is not stable, it would be a good thing if the court could reserve more generals so that they can be recruited and dispatched at any time when needed in the future."

"Yes." Zhu Youtang was very satisfied and nodded. "My father-in-law's concerns are correct. After all, Earl Weining was awarded the title by accumulating military merits. Even if he does not have the title now, he has also made great military achievements for the Ming Dynasty. Huai Daban, you go and draft an edict to pardon his crime and let him return home to recuperate first."

"Yes."

Huai En was given instructions twice for the same matter.

I felt quite helpless. Some things are inevitable after all! I was hiding something and no one should have raised questions, but someone who stayed at home every day, claiming to be recuperating, raised it in front of the emperor. It was as if someone could easily see through the things I was guarding against day and night.

This also gave him the illusion that he was seen through and that there were spies all around him.

……

……

After discussing official business, Zhu Youtang still chose to keep Zhang Luan in the palace for dinner, and even personally took his father-in-law to Kunning Palace, not hiding the fact that Zhang Luan was a man outside the palace.

Zhang Luan originally used the excuse that he wanted to meet Queen Mother Zhou and did not want to trouble his daughter and son-in-law, but Zhu Youtang forcibly persuaded him to stay, saying that after lunch he would accompany Zhang Luan to Qingning Palace to pay his respects.

Huai En and Qin Ji could only return to the Silijian duty room at this time.

The two came out of the Qianqing Palace. Tan Ji seemed to be afraid of being misunderstood by Huai En, so he stepped forward and asked in a questioning tone: "Zhang Guozhang has been at home for many days and has not left the house. How did he know about Wang Yue's affairs?"

This is telling Huai En clearly that I really didn't leak this matter, and I don't know how he knew it.

Huai En asked: "Who has visited his house in the past few days?"

Qin Ji asked in surprise: "How did you know this? Are you planning to have people from the East Factory and the Imperial Guards go to the Emperor's House and keep an eye on it day and night?"

"Of course not. If that were the case, wouldn't that be going against His Majesty? Once discovered, the consequences would be disastrous. Only a wise man would do that!"

Huai En immediately denied Tan Ji's doubt, and then said, "But it is understandable. Wang Yue knew that the new emperor ascended the throne and wanted to redress his grievances. He must have considered that it would not work just by submitting a memorial. He may have privately sent people to the capital to lobby. Some lobbyists are hiding in the dark. Who do they meet with and what promises they make? Who knows?"

Qin Ji said: "You mean, in addition to submitting a memorial, Wang Yue also sent lobbyists to intercede for him? This..."

Qin Ji seemed to be saying, I don't dare send anyone to keep an eye on Zhang's mansion, but as for Wang Yue's side, the East Factory and the Embroidered Uniform Guard are no pushovers, how could they not pay attention?
Why do you think, Eunuch Huai, that a criminal who was banished to a foreign land is capable of doing these evil things? He was a criminal, his family was raided, and almost everything from his financial resources to his connections was cut off.

If not for this, there wouldn't be no one in the court speaking for him in recent years.

Huai En said: "Zhang Guozhang seems to know very well who he should sell favors to and who can be used by him. His insight is really extraordinary. He can even pay attention to those who have been exiled and have not been to the court for many years. It seems that there are experts around him who give him advice."

"You mean the young uncle of the Zhang family?"

Tan Ji asked.

"No and no."

Huai En shook his head and said, "Although Li Zisheng went to the northwest, many of his aides stayed in the capital. You should know this, right?"

"That's true, but as far as I know, that Pang hasn't visited the Zhang Mansion recently." Qin Ji said.

Huai En said: "There is no need to visit Zhang's house. Sometimes it is difficult to send someone to pass a message to let Zhang Guozhang know. Li Zisheng is not in the capital, but his influence is still there. Li Zisheng may be lacking in work, but when it comes to socializing with people, he can be regarded as a ruthless character who is unmatched in the court."

Qin Ji asked: "But the problem is that he has lost his power, so how can he socialize?"

"Humph!"

Huai En said coldly: "If it weren't for Zhang Guozhang's support, maybe he really wouldn't be able to show even the most capable things. But the problem is now... Even if he doesn't publicize this banner, he can still be fearless by casually bringing up Zhang Guozhang's name."

"This……"

Tan Ji was a little confused for a moment.

Who are you guarding against, Huai En? Do you think that you should first clip Zhang Luan's wings and completely eliminate Li Zisheng's power?

Huai En said: "When you have time, write to the Northwest and ask Tan Chang to keep an eye on Lizi Province's movements. We must be the first to know about what happens in the Northwest.

"It's all for the court, not for personal gain. If Li Zisheng is really capable and can win the war against the foreign barbarians in the northwest, it can be regarded as a gift to the new emperor to ascend the throne and change the era name. We should support him."

Qin Jixin said, do you want to support it or do you want to set a trap?

Don't pretend in front of me. Maybe I don't even want to stay in the court until you are buried, because working under you is too tiring.

You, the eunuch Huai, are capable, but the way you exploit the people below is really suffocating.

(End of this chapter)