Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 786 Prepared Just for Him

Zhang Yanling was not in a hurry at all, because he knew very well that it was impossible to successfully elect the commander-in-chief of the three regions in a single court meeting.

Furthermore, Zhu Youcheng will definitely listen to Zhang Luan's opinion before making a final decision, or in other words, the selection of the chief commander of the three border regions will ultimately be decided by Zhang Luan.

Father-in-law, whoever you think is suitable, I will send to Guyuan to take up the post.

This person doesn't listen to you, which means he doesn't listen to me, the emperor. How can we dare to let an out-of-control person take charge of the military and political affairs in the Northwest, and how can he help me realize my political ambitions?
Zhang Yanling was aware of this because Zhu Youcheng knew that cannons were being mass-produced and needed a stage to showcase their capabilities.

If we just keep building like this without any funding from the imperial court, and those civil officials keep creating trouble... and it hasn't shown any results in actual combat, then there are questions about whether we should continue to develop it vigorously in the future.

We can't let everything come to a standstill, can we?

The best approach would be to take advantage of the internal strife among the Tatars, wage war first, and see how it goes.

Victory brings joy to all. We can continue to develop firearms, promote military and political reforms in the Northwest, weaken tribal forces, and even pacify the grasslands to completely eliminate border troubles.

And to accomplish all of this...

Should we find someone who is obedient and truly capable?
Most of those capable of serving as the commander-in-chief of the three border regions were traditional civil officials who would rather listen to Xu Pu, Wang Shu, and Ma Wensheng than the emperor, let alone Zhang Luan.

They were especially required to take the initiative and use firearms to win.

Ordinary ministers would never take such a risk.

Because they don't need to make things difficult for themselves.

If you win, you continue to be the governor-general of the three sides; if you lose, you are dismissed from office and punished.

Not fighting would actually be in their best interest.

They will not actively seek out opportunities to start a war unless absolutely necessary.

But Wang Yue's situation was completely different.

He has only recently been pardoned by the court, but he has not regained his title of Earl of Weining. If he were given the opportunity to lead troops and be in charge of the three border regions, he would simply drift along until retirement, which would be equivalent to squandering a winning hand.

In Zhang Yanling's view, Wang Yue was highly capable and had a strong drive for advancement. If given a stable space to perform, he would definitely surprise everyone. It was just that the ministers did not give him the opportunity to show his abilities.

……

……

Shen House.

Wang Yue visited before sunset, hoping to find out if he would be recommended by Grand Secretary Zhang during the court meeting the next day.

He couldn't count on any of the court officials who recommended him, whether they had previously respected him, maintained a certain relationship with him, or had received favors from him... because he knew that with the new emperor just ascended the throne, no one dared to defy the world and deny the previous emperor's decision.

His desire to obtain the position of Trilateral Governor through normal channels is nothing short of delusional.

"Counselor Shen, is there any news?"

When Wang Yue met Shen Lu, his face was filled with great anticipation.

Shen Lu shook his head and said, "Please forgive me, Your Highness, but I did not see Grand Secretary Zhang in person today."

"Oh."

Wang Yue looked very disappointed.

Shen Lu hurriedly added, "However, I have met the young imperial brother-in-law... he is Lai Zhan's second son, Yanling, and he is working for His Majesty."

Wang Yue asked, "Will this young imperial brother-in-law truthfully explain the situation to his father, as he hopes for the future?"

"Actually... Your Highness doesn't need to be in such a hurry."

Shen Lu said, "According to Yanling, tomorrow's court recommendation is just a formality. The final decision on this position may take several days of back and forth. Princes can go home and wait. The situation will gradually become clearer, but certainly not now."

Wang Yue asked in bewilderment, "His Majesty has clearly spoken with the Grand Secretaries and Ministers, and even planned to decide on the candidates through court deliberation. How could it be delayed? Isn't the military situation in the Northwest very urgent?"

"I don't know why Yanling would make such a judgment."

Shen Lu answered frankly, "However, based on my interactions with my nephew Yanling over the past two years, if he says so, then things will basically develop in this way, and it is unlikely that there will be any deviation."

"oh!?"

Wang Yue clearly did not think that a minor imperial brother-in-law who was not yet an adult, did not hold an official position in the court, and did not even have a title, had such a great deal of influence.

Shen Lu added, "Furthermore, I have also mentioned the prince to Yanling."

Wang Yue patiently asked, "What did the young imperial brother-in-law say?"

Clearly, what Wang Yue wanted to know was not Zhang Yanling's opinion of him, but rather to hear Zhang Yanling's description of Zhang Luan's impression of him.

“Your Excellency need not worry too much. It was only because the Zhang family spoke well of you before His Majesty that you were able to be pardoned and return to the capital, where you were allowed to remain idle and await further instructions. At this time, they will not treat you as an outsider.” Shen Lu said this in an effort to maintain the relationship between the Zhang family and Wang Yue.

Wang Yue said, "But Grand Secretary Zhang is not currently in court; he is still on sick leave... and..."

There were some things Wang Yue was too embarrassed to say too explicitly.

Who said that Zhang Laizhan's help to me necessarily means he values ​​me and plans to recommend me to the emperor so that I can be reinstated?
Everyone knows that His Majesty is a filial son. The decision made by the late emperor and the person to whom he blamed the crime, can be so easily overturned and punished?
If His Majesty truly intended to use me, why didn't he send me to lead troops in the Northwest before, but instead used someone from the little-known Lizi Province?
Or rather, I don't have any personal relationship with Zhang Laizhan, and we haven't even established a deep connection. Why would Zhang Laizhan lend a helping hand in such a big matter?

Shen Lu said helplessly, "Your Highness, you should have known long ago that there is really not much I can do to help you."

“Counselor Shen, please don’t say that,” Wang Yue hurriedly said. “The reason I entrusted myself to you is because there are very few people in the capital who can give me this opportunity.”

If I hadn't been truly desperate, I wouldn't have come to beg for help from a mere councilor in the Ministry of Justice. Such a lowly official wouldn't even have been worthy of carrying my shoes before.

But the problem is...

Behind this minor official is a powerful and suffocating father-in-law, Zhang Guozhang.

Even now, no one understands how Zhang Guozhang was able to become such a powerful figure in the Ming Dynasty in just over a year.

Shen Lu said, "Since Yanling has said so, why don't we wait a bit? If this matter really becomes controversial tomorrow, the court will definitely broaden the scope of candidates for recommendation, and then you, my lord, will surely have a chance. When it comes to leading troops to victory in the Northwest and deterring the barbarians, I believe that no one is more suitable than you, my lord."

Wang Yue asked, "Can't we ask Vice Minister Xu to say a few words on my behalf tomorrow?"

Wang Yue was clearly somewhat disappointed.

Since Zhang Laizhan has made it clear that he is unwilling to help, and his son only gave a casual instruction to wait and see, I still want to secure a nomination spot during the first round of court recommendations tomorrow.

It seems the imperial court is recommending a governor-general for the three border regions, but I, a retired and renowned official, can't even make the first round of the list? I have to wait for a later opportunity to be added to the list?

Shen Lu said helplessly, "I'm afraid few people will offer their opinions on tomorrow's court recommendation. After all, His Majesty has already consulted with the Grand Secretaries and Ministers, and the initial selection will definitely come from their mouths."

"understood."

Wang Yue seemed to have lost much hope of taking on the important task of overseeing the three border regions. He stood up, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "I'm sorry to trouble Councilor Shen. I hope that after tomorrow I will have the opportunity to meet Grand Secretary Zhang in person and explain my military strategy to him personally."

Whether it works out or not, I have to see Zhang Laizhan, right?

I need to let Grand Secretary Zhang know that I'm wholeheartedly devoted to following him. As for military affairs... do I need to question my abilities?
As long as I become the commander-in-chief of the three border regions, I ask the Tatars, who dares to invade? I can attack when I want and defend when I want. Wouldn't that be like coming and going freely, allowing me to roam at will?

……

……

Shen Lu spared no effort in helping Wang Yue.

He desperately wanted someone as capable as Wang Yue to join Zhang Luan's faction and become a key figure in their ranks. Even if no faction ultimately formed, he could still benefit from the network of relationships Wang Yue had built, which would be very helpful for him and Xu Qiong in their official careers.

And who wouldn't want to help someone who truly has the ability?
After all, Shen Lu himself was only a Juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations). He did not think that Wang Yue, the Yue Fei of his time, had committed any irreparable mistakes, or that Wang Yue was merely a victim of power struggles, and that it was completely unnecessary to elevate him to the level of a criminal.

So the next day, he continued to look for opportunities to see Zhang Luan.

Finally, through arrangements made by Zhang Yanling, he met his brother-in-law, who appeared somewhat listless, at a teahouse near Zhang Luan's private residence.

"Lai Zhan, what's wrong with you...?"

Shen Lu looked over and kindly reminded him, "You still need to get more rest... You've been recovering for so long, but you still don't look too well."

Zhang Luan asked in surprise, "Really? Is the situation really that obvious?"

Shen Lu asked, "Could it be that your condition has relapsed?"

"Where should I go?"

Zhang Luan was somewhat dejected and said, "I feel like I've been plagued by illness for the past year. Revealing heavenly secrets really does bring divine retribution... Ru Xue, I heard you came about Wang Weining's matter? I told you before that if you have something to say, go directly to Yanling. Why did you have to come to see me?"

Shen Lu said, “Of course I know that Yanling is very capable and can fully represent you. But the problem is... the princes don’t really trust Yanling... In their eyes, you are the Grand Secretary of the Ming Dynasty, the real big shot who can decide his future.”

Zhang Luan stroked his chin, puzzled, and asked, "Am I really that important to Wang Weining?"

Shen Lu sighed sincerely, "You don't know, he gave me, a mere councilor in the Ministry of Justice, such a generous gift... I feel that if I can't help him, I'll be letting him down."

"what!?"

Zhang Luan thought to himself, "Are you really that honest?"

Does taking someone's money mean you have to solve their problems?
You feel uneasy if you don't help others?

Shen Lu continued, “The Prince has a very high prestige in the army, and he sincerely wants to help His Majesty govern the military and political affairs in the Northwest... I believe that he can definitely help His Majesty and you, which is why I have tried every means to help him plan... At this time, it would be more effective for you to mention it to His Majesty than for anyone else.”

Zhang Luan shook his head and said, "Don't say that. Yanling's words carry much more weight than mine."

"Prolonging life?"

Shen Lu's eyes widened in shock. "You mean... Yanling can make suggestions to His Majesty directly without going through you, and His Majesty usually accepts his suggestions?"

"Otherwise what? How do you think the mines in Xishan were opened up? And the textile workshops in the palace! Then there was the military campaign in the Northwest, and the cannons... and the pacification of Liaodong... Actually, I was involved in very little of these things. It was only after Yanling formulated the major policies that someone told me what was going on."

Zhang Luan's main approach in front of Shen Lu was to be honest.

The father didn't feel too sad that his son was capable. After all, he was already the Marquis of Shouning, and at most, he could accumulate merits and be promoted to a duke.

I can already live a carefree and unrestrained life, so why bother making trouble?

Shen Lu asked, "So... you mean it's feasible to directly introduce the prince to Yanling and have him explain the situation to Yanling?"

Zhang Luan frowned and asked, "Do we really have to meet him? I mean, if we meet him and then recommend him, and he ends up in office, wouldn't that mean that even though the Zhang family clearly didn't want to get involved in the court's infighting, we were the ones who ultimately decided the candidate? People would say that the Zhang family is interfering in the military and political affairs of the Ming Dynasty, and even has the intention to usurp power. What should we do then?"

"Lai Zhan, do not laugh or talk. You must not say such things carelessly."

Shen Lu was startled.

You, Zhang Luan, really have no restraint when it comes to your words.

Zhang Luan said, "If you really think you should meet them, then let Yanling go. Yanling said that the Tatars are currently weak, and that in another ten years or so, the Tatars will gradually become stronger, and it won't be as easy to eliminate them as it is today."

"So, this battle is to completely pacify the grasslands?"

Shen Lu remained surprised.

Zhang Luan put on a stern face and scolded, "Ru Xue, I have to say something to you! You're just a minor official in the Office of Transmission, why are you meddling in so many important military and political affairs? You really have an endless amount of worries!"

"This one……"

Shen Lu felt somewhat embarrassed.

His own backer actually thinks he's meddling in other people's business?

He was thinking, "I did all this for you, for Master Xu?"
Zhang Luan said, “My son is making so many cannons and muskets, and there are also a lot of military uniforms and quilts. He is also raising funds and provisions. If we just make internal reorganizations and replenishment, it would be making a mountain out of a molehill. Since we attach so much importance to this, we must take the initiative to fight the Tatars to a standstill, and even drive them to the North Sea!”

Shen Lu asked, "What if the prince's idea differs from Yanling's?"

"Then why bother looking for Wang Weining?"

Zhang Luan said, "His Majesty wants just such a ruthless person, capable of sealing the wolf's lair, performing the abdication at Guyan, and drinking from the vast sea. If Wang Weining thinks he is not capable enough, why does he still have to come and join in the fun, making him an eyesore?"

"But you did help him before..."

Shen Lu reminded him.

Zhang Luan sneered and said, "I'm not helping him, but rather preparing a capable civil and military official in the capital for His Majesty, so that he can be called upon whenever he needs to be used in the future! It's not so that he can constantly weigh the pros and cons and back down at the crucial moment."

Shen Lu said, "Now I understand! This position might have been prepared for Wang Shichang! It's just that we can't let him know about it yet!"

(End of this chapter)