A long conversation

Author: Silent

A long conversation

Zhang Zhou arrived in the capital on August 20th, which was already after August 15th, and more than three months had passed since he set off for the expedition.

Originally, he had the idea of ​​staying in the northwest for a year and a half. Being able to complete the mission and come back in three months was considered a complete achievement for Zhang Zhou. Before he came back, he thought that he would live a stable and normal life after arriving in the capital. life.

Lead troops to help the three guards of Duoyan?

nonexistent.

Zhang Zhou returned to Beijing in a low-key manner. On that day, except for Xiao Jing who got wind of the news in advance and went to Xizhimen to greet him, not even the cabinet and the Sixth Ministry knew about his return.

After Zhang Zhou entered the city, he went straight to the palace.

In the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Youtang had prepared tables and chairs for Zhang Zhou early, and even had someone move a huge sand table there, just so that he and Zhang Zhou could have a good discussion of the war in the north.

Before Zhang Zhou arrived, Zhu Youtang was already scratching his head, which made Dai Yi and other eunuchs feel that the emperor looked a bit like his son Zhu Houzhao... Zhu Houzhao usually liked to do this kind of thing.

"His Majesty."

A person came in from outside, it was Chen Kuan.

Zhu Youtang asked eagerly: "Are you here?"

Chen Kuandao: "Back to Your Majesty, Zhang Yong has arrived."

"Oh, let him in."

In addition to summoning Zhang Zhou back to the court, Zhu Youtang also summoned Zhang Yong this time. It's not that Zhu Youtang thought Zhang Yong was useless in the northwest, but he wanted to arrange Zhang Yong to Liaodong to replace the guarding eunuch Ren Liang. , and replaced Liaodong from the governor to the guarding eunuch, and then to the generals below.

Then Zhang Yong came in and kowtowed to Zhu Youtang.

Zhu Youtang smiled and said: "It's rare that you worked hard in the northwest. It was Bingkuan who discovered and valued you. You must repay your kindness."

Zhang Yong was wondering as soon as he heard this, who should I repay? To repay the emperor's favor? Or to repay Zhang Zhou?

"A slave must do his best to serve the Ming Dynasty until his death." Zhang Yong himself was not an educated man, but he just wanted to express his loyalty in front of the emperor.

Zhu Youtang said: "You can't just do your best. You must also know how to obey orders and not act arbitrarily. The situation in Liaodong is not as good as that in the towns in the northwest. Jiliao and other places have always been the focus of the Ming Dynasty's capital defense."

"yes."

Zhang Yong knew in advance that he might be transferred to Liaodong, and he was still very excited.

Compared with the Ming Dynasty's layout in the northwest that lasted for hundreds of years, and the officials and generals were monolithic, Liaodong's uncertainty in organization and territory... mainly existed in the Ming Dynasty's ability to freely regulate some vassal states, which would make Liaodong closer to a unified state. The land where you don't care about anything... is very rich in oil and water.

This was Wei Bin's territory before, and Chen Kuan and other officials and eunuchs also benefited a lot from it.

This time it was his turn, but Zhang Yong felt that he no longer had to listen to the Director of Ceremonies, but only listened to Zhang Zhou alone.

Zhu Youtang nodded and said: "Bingkuan will come soon. Let him give you guidance on specific matters in the past two days. As for who should be the capital censor to go to patrol various parts of Liaodong, I have to wait for discussion with Bingkuan. Make your decision again.”

Originally, Dai Yi and Chen Kuan felt that although the eunuch guarding Liaodong was replaced by Zhang Yong, they could still do something about the issue of generals and install more of their own people.

Only now did they know that the emperor's refusal to make a decision did not mean that he was not prepared to take the decision-making power into his hands, but that he had to wait to discuss it with Zhang Zhou first... This also meant that whether it was the ministers in the court or the ceremonial officials, Members of the Supervisory Committee have lost control of the Liaodong general officer system.

…

…

Zhang Zhou immediately followed Xiao Jing to the Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Youtang was extremely happy to see Zhang Zhou. He went to the door to greet him. He grabbed Zhang Zhou's arm and pulled him inside: "Bingkuan, you are back. I haven't been able to sleep well these past two days. Thinking of this You have to come back and stay up all night. Look at what I have prepared for you."

When Zhu Youtang went to the Qianqing Palace with Zhang Zhou, what he saw in advance was not sand tables and maps.

It is an antique treasure that Zhu Youtang asked people to select from the inner treasury.

"Your Majesty, what are you..." Zhang Zhou looked very embarrassed.

Zhu Youtang smiled and said: "Bingkuan, we are all our own people. If you talk too much, you will be ignored. You also know that the court is short of money now, and there are not many rewards in the treasury. There are many expenses in the northwest that need you." I will personally raise the funds. Your trip to promote the grandeur can be said to be a great achievement. I cannot reward you with money directly, so I will give you some flashy things. Just don't dislike it."

Zhang Zhou smiled and shook his head when he heard this: "Your Majesty, there is no need to do this. I have no interest in this."

Dai Yipai smiled and said: "Mr. Zhang, this is all His Majesty's wish. In order to choose these, I spent a long time choosing from some lists."

In fact, without Dai Yi's explanation, Zhang Zhou could tell that the gifts Zhu Youtang gave him were really rich. Antiques, calligraphy and paintings were hidden in the palace and could not be cashed in. Those who met the knowledgeable kings might use them as treasures and keep them. Watch for yourself.

But Zhu Youtang had not experienced this kind of cultural influence since he was a child. Before he became emperor, he spent most of his time in fear and had no intention of caring about things other than his own life.

After becoming an emperor, he was taught to restrain himself and restore etiquette. He faced such a group of old-school ministers all day long, and his body was so weak... How could he be so rare in antiques, calligraphy and paintings?

The treasures plundered by the previous emperors of Zhu Youtang became "gaudy" things here, but it didn't bother him at all to give them to Zhang Zhou as a reward, which was a bit like "selling his father's land".

"Your Majesty, you don't have to worry about me, I have brought you something," Zhang Zhou said.

"Oh?" Zhu Youtang's eyes lit up.

Here, without waiting for the emperor's reward, the ministers still wanted to give the emperor gifts. Even the eunuchs nearby who were a little afraid of Zhang Zhou felt ashamed after hearing this.

This state of mind alone is incomparable.

Zhang Zhoudao: "In the past few months when I have been in the northwest, apart from interfering with military and political matters and exploring for mineral veins to have mines mined, most of the rest of the government affairs have been left to the local governor. I have basically not interfered with the military affairs of the General Military Mansion. What I am thinking about is how to suppress the wolves on the grassland by force."

Zhu Youtang smiled and asked: "Is it a new firearm?"

"Yeah." Zhang Zhou nodded, "The most important thing is the flint gun, which has already shown its power in the Battle of Weining Sea. In fact, it can be fired at any time without using a match rope, and the effect is very good. The other thing is With the further improvement of the fire gun, the range has been further increased and the launch speed has also been greatly improved."

"Where?" Zhu Youtang heard Zhang Zhou speak so well, and naturally wanted to see it for himself.

Zhang Zhou said: "Your Majesty, how can such a dangerous thing be brought into the palace? After all, there is still a risk of exploding the firearm when used. Your Majesty must not take risks. When I have free time, I will go to the martial arts field to demonstrate for Your Majesty."

"Yeah." Zhu Youtang smiled and nodded, very satisfied with this.

I just thought that yellow gunpowder and new artillery had qualitatively improved the strength of the Ming Dynasty's frontier army.

Still worried that Di Yi had learned the new technology of the Ming Dynasty, Zhang Zhou kept pace with the times and continued to improve firearms. He also managed the army and improved firearms at the same time... This showed Zhang Zhou's great potential. Responsibility.

Not to mention Zhu Youtang, an emperor who admired Zhang Zhou so much, even Dai Yi and Wei Bin were wondering in their hearts whether they were really incomparable, or they should stop thinking about how to fight and how to curry favor with this person. bit, it would be nice to be able to live in harmony in the future.

Zhang Zhou said: "In addition to new weapons, I also brought back some money, about twenty thousand taels."

"Money and silk?" Zhu Youtang smiled bitterly.

When the emperor was about to reward his ministers, he ended up bringing money to the emperor? Although twenty thousand taels does not sound like much, but compared to those ministers who only asked the court for money, Zhang Zhou's creativity was actually very alright.

Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "This is only the first batch, that is, the mining taxes paid by Datong Coal Mine and Xuanfu Iron Mine."

"Mining tax?" Dai Yi stared at him.

Zhang Zhou had previously said before starting the mine that he would pay part of the proceeds from the mining to the imperial court. In fact, it was paid to the emperor himself and transferred to the inner government.

This was also the regulation of Wanli Mining Tax later.

At that time, no one would have thought that Zhang Zhou’s mining tax collection would be effective in a short period of time. As a result, Zhang Zhou proved with actual actions that if he wanted to open up money for the inner government, he could not just talk about it, but he could lead it. For direct benefit.

"It's only equivalent to one month's mining tax. This is just before the current mining start. It's equivalent to 250,000 taels a year." Zhang Zhou said, "If progress goes well, by this time next year, the monthly mining tax will be It should be more than 50,000 to 60,000 taels, or even close to 100,000 taels."

Zhu Youtang's eyes were shining, probably with the light of gold and silver.

Dai Yi on the side asked in surprise: "Really?"

Zhu Youtang said: "Yes, Bingkuan, you don't have to work so hard. These mining taxes should be used more in the northwest."

Zhang Zhou said: "Your Majesty, I told you that the purpose of my mining is to use coal and iron to cast artillery and new firearms for the northwest frontier army. This is what I can do. As for the mining tax collected, then According to your Majesty's arrangement, part of it can be used to alleviate the expenses of northwest border affairs."

"The remaining part can also be used by Your Majesty for daily use. I will not suffer any loss, because the part produced from the mine will also fall to me. In the first few years, I would not think of using it to make a living. Pursuing personal gain is more about making reserves to pacify the grassland."

Zhu Youtang sighed: "Bingkuan, you don't have to be like this. I... didn't give it to you, why should I ask you to give it to me?"

Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "I actually don't have anything. Isn't this mine also a gift from your majesty?"

Zhu Youtang said: "That's the mine you opened yourself."

"Your Majesty, everything within the four seas is the king's land. It's not that I don't love money, but everything must be submitted to the military and political affairs of the northwest." Zhang Zhou also planned his blueprint for Zhu Youtang, "My thoughts, Within four to five years, the northwest can raise enough firearms to build strong troops and horses, and then they can send troops to the grassland."

Zhu Youtang asked: "Well, Bingkuan, do you have any decision regarding Duoyan's three guards' request for Ming Dynasty to send troops?"

I don’t even ask you what your opinion is, I just ask you what your decision is.

This is actually saying, feel free to say it, I will listen to you anyway.

Zhang Zhoudao: "What I mean is that the three guards of Duoyan usually do not pay tribute to the court and do not follow the royal teachings. Now in times of crisis, they think of sending troops to help from the Ming Dynasty. This is against the way of monarchs and ministers, so they ignore it. And announce it to the world. If you still want to get it, Those who are protected by the Ming Dynasty Sect Master must abide by the principles of being a minister and not act on impulse."

"Haha." Zhu Youtang said with great relief, "It's just what I wanted."

Dai Yi asked in surprise: "Then...then don't care?"

Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "I didn't say that I don't care at all. Haven't I mentioned to His Majesty that we need to strengthen the security in Liaodong? If the little Tatar prince defeats the three guards of Duoyan, or cripples them and recruits them, they may go to Liaodong next." March forward, and now there are Duoyan Sanwei in the east and west of Liao, Korea in the east, and various Jurchen tribes in the north... It is likely to become the focus of the Ming Dynasty's defense in the future."

"Liaodong is geographically closer to the capital. The defense of the border towns of the Ming Dynasty cannot be top-heavy. Therefore, I want to ensure the defense of Liaodong in the future before talking about progress."

Zhu Youtang had an extremely trusting look on his face, narrowed his eyes and nodded: "Very good, very good. With Bingkuan here, no matter what I say or do, I feel confident in my heart."

Now even Dai Yi and the others had to submit.

Sure enough, there were some words that came out of Zhang Zhou's mouth, which made even the civil and military ministers of the DPRK feel at ease.

Otherwise, the border affairs of the Ming Dynasty now depend on Zhang Zhou?

It's not that the emperor trusts Zhang Zhou, but that Zhang Zhou does have that ability... The emperor's trust also comes from Zhang Zhou's display of strength. If Zhang Zhou only talks about the art of war but does not talk about actual operations, the emperor will It’s amazing that he can be so highly regarded.
To be continued...