The struggle for the throne during the Jiajing reign

Zhu Zaizhen didn't mince words and directly uttered several names he had carefully considered: "Yu Dayou, Qi Jiguang, Wang Chonggu, Tang Shunzhi, Hu Zongxian, Tan Lun, Liu Xian, Li Chengliang, Ma Fang, Xu Wei."

That's all he can remember. The rest either achieved great success long ago or held sensitive positions. But with Zhang Juzheng and others, they're enough to form a core group.

Lü Fu was puzzled as to why King Jing had suddenly mentioned these names, but he dared not ask further. He lowered his head and pondered for a moment before cautiously replying, "I roughly know Yu Dayou and Tang Shunzhi."

Yu Dayou is currently the Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Pirate Defense Forces, Tang Shunzhi has been dismissed from office and is living in retirement, and the whereabouts of the others are unknown. I will investigate as soon as possible.

Zhu Zaizhen nodded slightly. This was not Lü Fu's fault. Among these people, apart from Yu Dayou and Tang Shunzhi, who were over forty and had already accumulated some reputation, most of the others were in their twenties or thirties, had not yet made a name for themselves, did not hold high positions, and were mostly not in the capital.

"Please instruct us, Your Highness, on what to do after the matter has been investigated."

"Arrange for someone to go to Shaoxing and bring Xu Wei here." Zhu Zaizhen paused. "He is a scholar with a reputation for talent, but he has repeatedly failed the imperial examinations. As for the others, there is no need to alarm them for now; just find out their situation."

"promise."

Zhu Zaizhen didn't say much, but he knew in his heart that while these people were all capable, there were probably not many who would be willing to join him if recruited.

Take Yu Dayou, for example. Everyone knows he's capable, but he always seems to have bad luck. He's used in tough battles, but once the battle is over and it's time for him to get promoted and make money, he's sidelined and becomes a stepping stone for others.

Why? It's because he refused to side with either side. Such a person cannot be easily recruited with just a letter. Tang Shunzhi was the same; he was very stubborn.

There are ways to do this if we really want to, but winning over military generals is a taboo, so we can't be hasty and can only take it slowly.

"Uncle," Zhu Zaizhen snapped out of his thoughts, changing the subject, "would you be willing to try and move up in rank?"

Lü Fu didn't stand on ceremony either. He participated in the struggle for the throne in order to climb the ranks; otherwise, who would be willing to risk the lives of their entire family?

He said frankly, "Your Highness, there's no need for that yet. The higher you go, the more conspicuous you become. My current position is just right for me to do small things for Your Highness."

Zhu Zaizhen nodded without saying much. Lü Fu was mature and prudent, so this trip was worthwhile and he would be compensated in the future.

"It is getting late. I humbly request Your Highness to take your seat."

"it is good."

At this time, the wine and dishes prepared by the Lü family had been tested for poison, and the Imperial Guards and the Imperial Household Department had also repeatedly confirmed the safety of the cooks and ingredients. Everyone took their seats according to etiquette.

Zhu Zaizhen had been racking his brains all day, but he was really hungry. However, his companion wouldn't let him eat much; he could only take a couple of bites of each dish before it was taken away.

Ma Dezhao said in a low voice, "Your Highness should eat less while you are out. If you feel that the taste is not right, just spit it out. I have already sent someone back to inform you that you can eat as much as you want when you return to the palace."

"Okay, I'll do as my husband says."

Zhu Zaizhen knew his special status. Let alone being poisoned, even the slightest thing like getting an upset stomach would be a serious crime for his aunt's family, so he should restrain himself.

A moment later, the Imperial Guards came to inquire whether it was best to return to the palace before 7 PM. This was a privilege granted only by special decree of Zhu Zaizhen. Otherwise, if they could not return before 5 PM, they would have to spend the night outside the palace.

…………

The daily life at the Jizhou border was never one of strict discipline and order, but rather one of lethargy, generals' laziness, soldiers' exhaustion, and neglect of border defenses.

Qi Jiguang, 21 years old, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, was a handsome and capable man. He was currently the Vice Commander of Dengzhou Guard and was leading the Shandong troops to garrison the Gubeikou area of ​​Jizhou.

The term "banjun" refers to the practice of sending troops from garrisons that do not usually fight to the front lines of border defense to repair city walls and guard the Great Wall.

According to regulations, they were supposed to work a six-month shift, but the border generals often refused to release them beyond the agreed time. Under the pretext of keeping them for winter, it was common for them to be detained and forced to do hard labor for an extra six months or a year.

As for the pay, according to the system, infantrymen received one shi of rice per month, while cavalrymen received two shi. In reality, if they could get half of that, they were lucky to have a kind-hearted commander.

In general, the situation was characterized by scarce grain, meager funds, out-of-pocket travel expenses, rampant misappropriation, heavy private labor, and delays in release, making life extremely difficult.

Of course, this refers to the soldiers below. He, a dignified fourth-rank military officer, was not so miserable. In fact, if he wanted, he could even make a profit on this trip.

However, he was unwilling. It wasn't that he was particularly upright, but rather that he disdained such a thing. As a general, it was acceptable to take more spoils of war, but to receive pay without working and to drink the blood of soldiers was rather shameful.

It was precisely because he was unwilling to compromise his principles and had no money to bribe officials that this arduous task of guarding the border fell to him, but he had already come up with a solution.

Although they held hereditary official positions, they were not from the proper channels of officialdom and could only serve in their local guard posts, rising through the ranks based on seniority, making it difficult for them to enter the central government.

Important positions in border towns and the post of general were mostly selected from military officers who had passed the imperial examinations or were officials with military merits, and hereditary officials were almost never considered.

Therefore, he decided to seek a better position by participating in the military examination, so that he could gain entry into the inner circle and have a chance to command a large army and achieve great success in the future!

"Yuan Jing, we've come to find you. Look at you, what kind of nonsense are you writing now? Come and have a drink."

Five or six tall, strong figures barged in. Like Qi Jiguang, they were military officers from Shandong and Daning Commandery. Their ancestors were all military households who had served under Emperor Taizu in the founding of the country and whose positions were hereditary.

In Jizhou, everyone was an outsider, so they naturally stuck together tightly, otherwise it would be difficult to gain a foothold.

Qi Jiguang didn't put down his pen, but looked up and laughed, "You guys heat up the pot and brew the wine first. I'll finish writing soon. What kind of wine did you bring today?"

"Brother Yuanshan, didn't you say you could get your hands on the 'Full Hall Incense'? Did you bring it?"

Zhao Guang, the deputy commander of Laizhou Garrison, plopped down and scoffed, "You actually believe him! Forget about 'Full Palace Fragrance,' that Huang Yuanshan fellow can't even produce a single jar of aged wine!"

Before Zhao Guang could finish speaking, the burly men burst into laughter.

The guy named Huang Yuanshan shrank awkwardly behind the crowd, muttering, "I really did drink it in Shandong... even if it's watered down, it's still 'Man Dian Xiang'... It's a pity that the little pot I hid was stolen, otherwise I would definitely have brought it with me..."

Qi Jiguang also showed a happy smile. The frontier was tough. Although Jizhou was not far from the capital, it was only slightly better than other places. Everyone stayed here to get by, and they would often brag and joke with each other, and they would also drink and have fun together at night.

He lived in a main room with a kang (heated brick bed), a table and chairs, two low square cabinets, and a side room where he could cook wine.

Before long, the charcoal mixed with dried horse manure was quickly ignited, and the flames greedily licked the bottom of the pot.

Water was poured into a pot, and then several large jars of wine were placed directly into the water to warm them. Several tall and strong men crowded into the side room, vying to sit on the two dilapidated benches, afraid of being pushed aside and missing out on a sip of wine.

Before long, the sounds of opening the wine jars and drinking wine could be heard. No one was waiting for anyone, and no one came to call Qi Jiguang, because there was never enough wine to go around, and it was better to have one less mouth to feed.

...............