Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 707: The Power of a Great Nation
Zhang Mansion, another house.

Seeing Zhang Luan in a daze, Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "Dad, if it were you, knowing that you couldn't win on the battlefield, and you couldn't let the Tatars come over to show off their power and run away, what would you do?"

Zhang Luan said, "If I had my hands free, I would have beaten you with my shoe soles! You really want to tease your father, right? That hot pot you let my father eat before...don't add any beef or mutton, just throw my father in it!"

"Dad, you don't have enough brains, so you just like to threaten your son and seek a sense of existence, right?"

Zhang Yanling curled his lips and said, "To put it bluntly, it is almost impossible for Li Zisheng to achieve anything on the battlefield. First, we have no advantage in a direct confrontation. Second, the Tatars have just suffered a loss and will be very vigilant. A sneak attack is almost impossible... He can only find a way to negotiate with the Tatars."

Zhang Luan asked, "Now...negotiating? What to talk about?"

"Of course, we are discussing opening border markets for trade."

Zhang Yanling said, "The Tatars admitted that they were defeated and came to the capital of the Ming Dynasty to pay tribute, demonstrating the power of our great country. The Ming Dynasty is also tolerant and will give foreign countries a chance to reform. We will open several border gates as border markets to trade with the Tatars and put the initiative of trade in the hands of the court.

"In this way, the Tatars will surrender to us, Li Zisheng won't have to worry about winning first and then losing, and the soldiers won't have to continue to fight for their lives. Your Majesty's majesty will be demonstrated, and the Ming officials will not be able to find fault with Li Zisheng... This way, we can kill two birds with one stone. I really can't think of any reason why Li Zisheng wouldn't take this path."

Zhang Luan was stunned when he heard this. He asked tremblingly, "My son, did you come up with all this? Have you told Li Zisheng?"

Zhang Yanling said: "I previously set up a northwest response strategy for him, that is, when I gave him the letter in your name, I mentioned to him that if he wanted to win a victory against the Tatars inside and outside the Great Wall, it would be fine, but it would be impossible to win all the time. Being in a state of war with the Tatars for a long time is not in the interests of the court.

"To boost your majesty's prestige, you need to use both kindness and force, and the people in the court are pursuing a prosperous scene where the whole world comes to pay tribute. I think he should understand what I mean, right?"

Zhang Luan asked, "In other words, you had thought about the current situation before you planned to ambush the Tatars?"

"What's so hard about this?"

Zhang Yanling said, "Even if he fails in his surprise attack, the Tatars will still invade the south. We need a strategy to stabilize the border situation, right? In fact, neither side will suffer from border trade."

Zhang Luan frowned and questioned, "But if the Tatars go back on their word and attack us next year, won't I be held responsible? Wait, you want Li Zisheng to take the blame, right? He was the one who proposed this anyway..."

Zhang Yanling said, "Dad, in fact, we are trading with the Tatars just to stabilize them. In a year or two, when our Ming army is strong, especially when the firearms I showed my brother-in-law earlier are officially put to use, we will no longer be afraid of Tatar cavalry on the battlefield. At that time, the Tatars will beg us, and we will leave them a way to survive."

Zhang Luan said, "You are too blindly confident, aren't you? You want to change everything in just one or two years? Are you sure?"

"Hey, Dad, we have to be farsighted and forward-looking." Zhang Yanling said cheerfully, "I'm giving you a chance now, right? It shouldn't be a problem for you to live another year or two, right? By then, you can lead the troops into the grasslands, flatten them, conquer the Wolf's Lair, and leave your name in history. How do you think? Am I a good son?"

Zhang Luan's face was grim: "Get lost! I won't die! If you want to go, go ahead! And leave your name in history! Oh my... Who can only live for one or two years? I want to live a hundred years! My son, you have to cure my illness."

At first, he wanted to use his power to threaten his son, but his tone became softer and softer, until he was begging.

"cut!"

Zhang Yanling turned around and resumed writing and drawing. "Dad, you have made some progress. You are going to be a cabinet member soon... My brother-in-law said that if the Northwest issue is settled this time, you can be a cabinet member! Don't let people laugh at you!"

……

……

After nightfall.

In the Imperial Household Department, Huai En was still reviewing memorials by lamplight.

The night was dark and the temperature was very low that day. Even though there were braziers around, Huai En still had to put his hands to his mouth and blow on them from time to time to ensure that his hands did not freeze.

At this moment, Qin Ji came over with a candle, added a lamp to Huai En, and advised: "Eunuch Huai, go and have a rest, you need to rest."

Huai En raised his head, his eyes were very gentle, and he said in a pleasant manner: "There is not much time left for our family. Just like this lamp, we should burn it as long as possible, so that we can feel at ease when we return one day... Hou Fang, what is that ding-dong sound outside?"

"Oh."

Qin Ji listened attentively, and sure enough, there was a faint sound coming from outside. He was stunned at first, then he remembered something and quickly introduced the situation he had learned, "They said they were installing some kind of heating system, and it's almost done. Isn't this a matter of rushing the work? If it can be completed tonight, maybe we can run the water tomorrow to test if there are any leaks."

"What!?"

Huai En was confused.

Tan Ji said, "I don't know the details, but it was arranged by the young uncle. He said that in this way, the Qianqing Palace and Kunning Palace will no longer be cold inside and outside, and he also said that warm rooms will be built on both sides of the Qianqing Palace in the future."

Huai En frowned and said, "I thought your majesty was just joking before, this matter..."

Qin Ji said quickly, "They are all copper pipes. I have checked them and there is no problem. They say that boiling hot water is circulated back and forth inside to drive the room temperature up... It sounds quite reasonable. It's just that the pipes are so long, I don't know if there are any leaks, but it's much better than using a brazier, right?"

Huai En asked, "Is Zhang Laizhan still recovering from his illness?"

"what?"

Qin Ji was slightly startled, then nodded, "Yes, I don't see anyone. I don't even know if Zhang Laizhan is in the city now..."

Huai En asked: "Didn't you ask the people from the East Factory to check it out?"

Qin Ji said: "What is there to investigate? Even if he is really pretending to be sick, so what? Eunuch Huai, you have to take care of yourself. Don't worry about others. If it weren't for you, who would be able to support the Imperial Household Department? How can you intimidate the foreign ministers?"

……

……

Forbidden City.

Inside Kunning Palace.

After less than ten days of emergency construction, the heating was turned on.

Zhu Youtang and Zhang Yu, couple, sat there looking at Zhang Yanling who was busy, and seemed not to understand what he was doing there.

Zhang Yu stood up and curiously walked to Zhang Yanling who was carefully checking the leaking spot and asked, "Yanling, is this what you call heating? I don't feel anything."

Zhang Yanling looked up and asked, "Sister, don't you feel warmer?"

"It's the middle of the day, the Yang energy is at its peak, is there any difference from usual?" Zhang Yu looked back at her husband and asked, "Your Majesty, do you feel warmer?"

Zhu Youtang, of course, spoke to his wife, saying, "It's quite warm here today, but I don't know if it has anything to do with the newly installed heater."

Zhang Yanling said, "Sister, can you touch the pipe to see if it is warm?"

"Have it?"

Zhang Yu reached out and touched the radiator, and a look of joy suddenly appeared on his face. He smiled and said, "It really is... Your Majesty, come and touch it too."

This statement seems somewhat ambiguous.

But Zhu Youtang was simple-minded. He walked up to the siblings and followed Zhang Yu to touch them. He showed a happy expression and said, "It has really started to warm up. My dear, you should try it too."

Qin Ji followed and came closer to try it.

"Interesting."

Zhang Yu smiled as if he was having fun, "Yanling, does that mean that the hot water in here flows back and forth, raising the temperature in the room? Wouldn't it be a waste of water for such a big thing?"

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "No, it's just a stove, but the heating method is no longer burning charcoal like before, but hot water."

"Will it work? Will it leak?"

Zhang Yu asked curiously.

"Isn't this... I was looking for a leak? It turned out to be intact, and it looks like the welding was OK."

Zhang Yanling said.

Zhang Yu asked: "What is welding?"

Zhang Yanling smiled but said nothing. There were some things he really couldn't explain to his sister.

In other words, there are many things in his mind that people of this era cannot understand.

Just like the self-burning heating system in later generations, the technology required is just to keep the pipes unobstructed and prevent water leaks.

The next step is to build a boiler room nearby and hire someone to boil water for heating twelve hours a day.

Zhu Youtang asked, "Yanling, didn't you go to Qingning Palace to take a look? Don't you need to keep an eye on that place?"

"no need."

Zhang Yanling said, "There's also someone watching the heating over there... It's Eunuch Chen Gui."

Zhu Youtang said: "It will be easier to find the problem if you go... I'm worried that the heating over there is not warm enough."

Qin Ji, who was standing by, couldn't help but laugh when he heard this.

Obviously, Qin Ji knew the situation in the palace very well...

For an opportunity like being able to perform meritorious deeds in front of Queen Mother Zhou, Chen Gui would definitely fight for it. Is it necessary for Zhang Yanling to pay attention to such a thing? Chen Gui was more enthusiastic than anyone else in showing his courtesy.

If it wasn't Chen Gui's turn to be in charge of Kunning Palace, Chen Gui would probably want to come and supervise it personally.

……

……

After the heating was turned on, as the room temperature rose, Zhang Yu felt hot.

Then Zhang Yu went into the back hall and changed into lighter clothes. After sitting down, he took out a fan and fanned himself gently. He asked curiously, "Is the weather so warm today? It was so cold a few days ago."

Tan Ji said: "My lady, it's still very cold outside. You must not go out. The temperature difference is quite big."

Zhu Youtang said with a smile: "My dear, aren't you hot wearing so many clothes? Take off your coat quickly! You can put it on when you go out."

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am fine."

Tan Ji was too embarrassed to say it.

You two can wear whatever you want, whenever you want, whether you go in or out, but we servants can change our clothes in front of our masters? You say you only put on clothes when you go out, and even if we are hot, we have to endure it.

Zhang Yu glared at his brother who was eating pine nuts, sunflower seeds, pea cakes and other snacks at the table, and said, "You only know how to eat."

Zhang Yanling opened his innocent eyes and said, "Sister, I didn't offend you. I've been busy for a long time, what's wrong with eating something? Why are you like dad, taking your anger out on me for no reason?"

Zhang Yu smiled and said, "I'm used to it... except that the boss isn't here, otherwise it would be best to get angry at him."

"Hehe... I feel sorry for Big Brother. What did he do to offend anyone?"

Zhang Yanling shrugged.

Zhang Yu said unhappily, "You were no different from him before, but in the past two years, I don't know how you changed. Get up, get up!"

"My brother-in-law didn't say anything."

Zhang Yanling protested in dissatisfaction.

Zhu Youtang on the side smiled and said, "Your sister is right. At your age, you can't sit down every day. But I still have something to tell you in detail. Yu'er, if you feel hot, go in and change your clothes."

Zhang Yu said, "I'll open the window and get some fresh air... Forget it, I'll go into the inner room so you two don't get frozen."

After saying that, Zhang Yu stood up and walked inside.

……

……

After the others left, Zhu Youtang felt more comfortable with Zhang Yanling.

Maybe it's because there's no woman nagging me, so I feel more relaxed.

Zhu Youtang said, "Yanling, how is your father's condition? I want to ask but I dare not ask in front of your sister, for fear that she will worry."

"well enough."

Zhang Yanling said, "I have been resting. Illness comes like a mountain falling, and goes away like a thread. It will probably take some time to recover. But you look much better, brother-in-law."

Zhu Youtang smiled and said, "After taking your medicine, I feel much lighter. Doctor Wang has been coming to check my pulse frequently these past two days. I have to say that his medical skills are very good."

Zhang Yanling said, "Doctor Wang's medical skills are inherited from our family. It can be said that they are the result of the experience accumulated by several generations. My father and I...are more of an amateur."

"You can't say that. You each have your own merits."

At this point, Zhu Youtang suddenly asked, "There has been no news about Piantou Pass in the past two days. Did your father say anything?"

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "Brother-in-law, I want to ask, if Minister Li makes peace with the Tatars, can you accept it?"

"Make peace?"

Zhu Youtang was a little confused for a moment.

Even Qin Ji, who was standing next to him, pricked up his ears to listen.

Because it is about the war in the northwest, the emperor is concerned about it, Huai En is also concerned about it, and the officials in the court don't seem to care on the surface, but they are all paying attention to it secretly.

No one could have imagined that the first battle after the new emperor of the Ming Dynasty ascended the throne would be led by the father-in-law Zhang Luan and carried out by Li Zisheng, a treacherous minister in the traditional sense.

Many people want to see a joke but are afraid of actually seeing it.

Zhang Yanling said: "It has been very difficult to advance on the battlefield until now. If we make peace with the Tatars, let them pay tribute, and promise to withdraw from the border area, can we give them the opportunity to open a border market?"

Zhu Youtang thought about it seriously and nodded, "If that's the case, it would be great if we could turn hostility into friendship and restore peace on the border."

Qin Ji reminded: "Your Majesty, the Tatars have evil intentions and cannot be trusted."

"Does my spouse think it's not possible?"

Zhu Youtang turned his head and asked.

Qin Ji was startled, then realized that his suggestion seemed to be beyond his authority, and hurriedly said: "I just said it casually, everything depends on the specific situation."

Zhang Yanling said, "Eunuch Tan, in fact, in my opinion, the Tatars are foreign tribes that have submitted to us. Due to some changes, they have become ambitious. We have already taught them a lesson on the battlefield. Since we cannot completely subdue them for the time being, we should show the kingly way and educate them with rituals and music. What do you think?"

Qin Ji smiled bitterly and thought, you two father and son are the most thoughtful. I'd rather not get involved in this kind of thing.

Zhu Youtang smiled and said, "Yanling, what you said makes sense. Is this also what your father meant?"

"This one……"

Zhang Yanling said, "My father doesn't dare to make the decision on this matter. He just has this doubt. Whether to fight or make peace, the frontline affairs still have to be left to the frontline generals to decide. But if my brother-in-law thinks this plan is feasible, he can also give Minister Li an order to give him guidance."

Zhu Youtang said, "My dear, please help me draft an imperial edict."

Qin Ji said in embarrassment: "Your Majesty, should this matter be discussed openly at the court meeting?"

Zhu Youtang shook his head: "Not good. If we discuss this publicly at the court meeting, there will definitely be people who say that doing so will damage the dignity of the court, or that the timing is wrong and so on.

"I think negotiating peace after defeating the opponent is a better option. Besides, it doesn't necessarily have to be this way. I just want to let Li Zisheng know that this matter can be advanced or retreated."

"Uh... yes, yes."

Qin Ji thought, are you guys so direct when discussing things?

Two people sat down and talked for a few minutes, and decided on the important issue of whether to go to war or make peace with the outside world without going through the court?
No wonder Eunuch Huai respected Zhang Guozhang very much but was also very wary of him. Before his death, he even risked losing the trust of His Majesty and became an enemy of Zhang Guozhang.

original……

This matter really involves huge risks!
Zhu Youtang said: "Yanling, tell me, will the Tatars accept the kingly way? They are uncivilized, so they should be... stubborn and unyielding, right?"

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "Brother-in-law, I think we can try everything. Whether it will succeed or not depends on whether the Tatars are pushed into a corner. Now it is clear that they are coming to the border of the Ming Dynasty to plunder, and they will definitely suffer a more severe blow.

"Now they can't rob and lose face. If they withdraw their troops in disgrace, they will lose their prestige. Rather than ending it in such a ridiculous way, it is better for them to take a step back and send envoys to the capital to pay tribute in exchange for the Ming Dynasty's favor of opening border markets. They can exchange for the materials they need and avoid further escalation of the situation, which would end badly."

"correct."

Zhu Youtang nodded and said, "In that case, peace talks can be regarded as killing two birds with one stone. But... will the Tatars accept the way out we give them?"

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "Yes."

Zhang Yanling was not joking about this matter.

Historically, this early spring war in the first year of the Hongzhi reign did end with the Tatars paying tribute, but the protagonist of the story was not Li Zisheng, but the famous minister Xu Jin, and the location was not Piantouguan, but Datong.

There are many reasons.

At this time, the Ming Dynasty was not suitable for a major war because of the new emperor's ascension to the throne.

As for the Tatars...

Batu Mongke was also still young and inexperienced, and Dayan Khan at this time urgently needed the support of the Ming court to consolidate his position on the grassland.

What is different from history is that

According to historical records, the Tatars completely took the initiative on the battlefield and had a huge advantage. Xu Jin's hospitality and recruitment were more of a helpless move.

But now, because Li Zisheng first won the battle on the battlefield and then showed mercy, the Ming Dynasty seemed to have the power of the Celestial Empire.

(End of this chapter)