Before Zhu Hao arrived at Tianjin Wei, he met the visiting Zhu Wanhong halfway.
Zhu Wanhong also learned that he would be sent to the southeast coast to fight against Japanese pirates. He did not want to die on the front line, so he came to Zhu Hao specifically to intercede... Of course, he also had some ulterior motives.
"Zhu Shilang, you are in a high position now, why should you feel sorry for such a small person in a humble position?" Zhu Wanhong kowtowed to Zhu Hao as soon as he came up. He didn't think at all that he was the elder and Zhu Hao was the junior, so he started to complain.
Inside and outside the station, there were all the imperial guards brought by Zhu Hao. Zhu Wanhong came to see Zhu Hao with only one entourage.
Zhu Hao put down the book in his hand and said quietly: "Uncle, you and I have known each other for many years and know everything about you, so there is no need to do this, right? Isn't it better to just say what you have to say? You don't want to lead the army in battle?"
Zhu Wanhong got up from the ground, his eyes full of longing: "Eldest nephew, since you insist on letting me tell the truth, then I will tell you... isn't this going to risk your life?"
"Who asked you to die?"
Zhu Hao frowned and said, "That's why you think so because you haven't seen the big ships I built, nor the cannons and muskets I made people improve. I'm taking advantage of you, it's excellent."
If you don’t want the opportunity to make meritorious deeds, are you giving it to others in vain?”
"hehe!"
Zhu Wanhong shook his head and smiled bitterly.
Those erratic little eyes were clearly telling Zhu Hao, "Eldest nephew, since you said that we both know everything about you, doesn't your uncle know that you like to deceive your family members?"
You let your brother, my son, make a fool of himself on the street with his butt naked. You can do such a thing. Do I think you are giving me a chance to make a meritorious deed?
Why are you so hypocritical?
Zhu Hao continued: "If you don't believe it, just follow my team and I will let you see the power of the new firearms!"
Zhu Wanhong murmured: "That means...this matter has not been discussed?"
"There is discussion."
Zhu Hao said, "I'll give you a chance to choose. If you still don't want to go, then go back to Nanjing and continue to be your guard. It's impossible to stay in the capital... This is the only choice you can make!"
Zhu Wanhong was a little lost in the lake.
If you don't let me stay in the capital, you won't give me the chance to get close to the core of power. But the problem is that if you ask me to destroy the pirates, you actually have to choose between returning to Nanjing?
What kind of number is this?
You can't really give me a chance to make a contribution, right? I don't even need to go to the shipyard in Tianjin to know that you are trying to trick me... Why should I believe your nonsense?
"Someone is coming!"
Zhu Hao gave the order, and his followers immediately came into the room.
Zhu Hao said: "Arrange a place for him and let him follow the team for the next few days. We will wait until we get to the shipyard!"
…
…
Zhang Cong was in the capital and finally received a letter from Gui E, and it was Huo Tao who helped deliver the letter.
In other words, Gui E was afraid that the letter would be intercepted halfway, so he wrote the letter to Huo Tao, who was not noticed by anyone, and then Huo Tao delivered it.
"...Zi Shi received the news that Yang Butang received a letter from the capital when he came out of the mountain. Then Yang Butang informed the local government that he was going to the capital, and then the local government arranged for drivers and escorts!
"
Huo Tao said, "At that time, Zushi had been away from Zhenjiang for five days. When Zushi was in Zhenjiang, Yang Butang made it clear that he would not return to the court. But I don't know who received the letter!"
Zhang Cong frowned: "Zi Shinai went with the Holy Edict, but Yang Butang didn't even listen to the emperor's words. Whose letter can be so effective?"
Huo Tao said: "Some things are really hard to say for sure. Maybe Yang Butang deliberately didn't want to be recruited by Zishi? Could it be that... he returned to the court just to draw a clear line with the etiquette faction in the court?"
According to Huo Tao's intention, Yang Yiqing actually wanted to return to the court for a long time, but when he saw that the person who came to invite him was Gui E from the Yili Sect, he chose to refuse because Yang Yiqing didn't want to have anything to do with Zhang Cong and others, even if
Yang Yiqing once expressed his support for Li Yi, but did not want to get involved in the disputes over Dali Yi.
Zhang Cong said coldly: "Is it possible that it was a letter sent by Zhu Jingdao?"
"No way?"
Huo Tao now also knew the reason, and directly denied this statement, "Zhu Shilang is now the only person in the court, why would he cause trouble for himself? Furthermore, how important his letters are to Yang Butang
The influence? Yang Butang didn’t even follow the imperial edict, how could he give Zhu Shilang face?”
This was something Zhang Cong couldn't understand. Although he suspected that Zhu Hao was behind this incident, he still couldn't understand it with his mentality.
"Okay, you can go back."
Zhang Cong said, "This matter must not be leaked to the outside world."
Huo Tao was a little embarrassed: "There is another troublesome thing. Mr. Xie Ge from Yuyao has no intention of being recruited by the imperial court. It may be the same situation as Yang Butang. It is said that... before Zushi arrived, someone also visited him and asked Xie
Mr. Ge sent a letter, but as for who it is... we can't find out for the moment."
"What?"
Zhang Cong frowned deeply.
Huo Tao said distressedly: "Now it seems that someone is deliberately causing trouble for us...Zi really represents His Majesty, but someone wants to contact the two senior ministers beyond His Majesty. This is clearly an act of transgression. Shouldn't you report it, Academician Zhang?"
Please explain the situation to His Majesty for a moment?"
Zhang Cong said: "Do you think it's that easy to submit a memorial? What if this is His Majesty's intention?"
"This...shouldn't be possible, right?"
Huo Tao was surprised again and asked in confusion.
Zhang Cong sighed: "On the surface, His Majesty chose Zishi to go to the south to invite the two of them to return to the DPRK. He should not appoint anyone else. But have you ever thought about who is the biggest obstacle to their return to the DPRK?"
"this……"
There was still a gap between Huo Tao's rank and Zhang Cong's, and he was stunned for a moment.
It's not that Huo Tao has poor political sensitivity, but because Huo Tao doesn't know almost all the court secrets like Zhang Cong.
As the "quasi-number two" among the civil servants around the emperor, Zhang Cong was actually second only to Zhu Hao in terms of status. Even Xi Shu had to stand back, so he knew everything about the power structure around the emperor.
Chu.
He knew very well that Huang Zan and Tang Yin were just pretenses, and it was Zhu Hao who really had the power to influence the emperor's opinions.
Even eunuchs such as Zhang Zuo and Huang Jin could only stand aside.
Zhang Cong said: "Either the chief assistant Fei Gelao wrote the letter, or it was Zhu Jingdao. Apart from the two of them, I really can't think of a third person."
Huo Tao said: "After what you said, it seems more likely that the cabinet minister will write a letter. After all, there is no need for two groups of people to do one thing. If His Majesty had intended it, he would never have spent so much effort. Or else
yes……"
"Who do you want to say?" Zhang Cong asked.
Huo Tao tried to analyze: "Is it possible... that it's the one from Sichuan?"
Zhang Cong's face suddenly became serious.
Huo Tao is talking about Yang Tinghe.
Although Yang Tinghe has been far away from the core of power in the Ming Dynasty, and it is reasonable to say that he has no substantial influence on the court, but with the Zuoshunmen incident and his son Yang Shen being sent to Liubian, Yang Tinghe, the former chief minister, must be willing to see the new emperor
So messy?
Couldn't Yang Tinghe make some counterattack?
If Yang Tinghe wanted to influence people in the officialdom, it would be tantamount to treason, but if he secretly wrote letters to Yang Yiqing, Xie Qian and other veterans, it was not impossible.
Zhang Cong said: "You may not know the grudges between them. Furthermore, with the influence of a minister who has become an official, how can he extend his hand so far?"
From Zhang Cong's point of view, this matter is quite ridiculous. Yang Yiqing and Yang Tinghe are not on good terms. The reason why Yang Yiqing supports the Great Rites Discussion is that he cannot stand the behavior of Yang Tinghe and others.
Yang Yiqing was on good terms with Emperor Zhengde, and his faction included people like Wang Qiong, Wang Xian, and Wang Shouren who were suppressed by Yang Tinghe. When Yang Tinghe was in charge of the government, these people were all killed.
Huo Tao asked tentatively: "What if it is related to someone in the palace?"
Zhang Cong's breath was a little off.
"Is this something you and I can talk about?" Zhang Cong immediately stopped Huo Tao.
But in fact, these words also fell into Zhang Cong's heart.
Huo Tao means that if Yang Tinghe's influence alone, or Yang Tinghe's ambition, he is not qualified to compete with the new emperor, but if it involves Empress Dowager Zhang... the emperor is becoming more and more time-consuming in the discussion of rituals. Who knows whether this will happen
possible?
At present, the new emperor's grand ceremony has achieved initial results, the ministers have been suppressed, and it seems that there is harmony between the emperor and his ministers.
But the problem is, Queen Mother Zhang will definitely be willing to give her adopted son as the emperor, but this son runs back to recognize his ancestor and return to the clan?
Doesn’t Queen Mother Zhang want to knock the little emperor down and replace him with a new one?
One of the forces that Empress Dowager Zhang can use is the military power of the nobles. The court... Naturally, we cannot expect the current cabinet elders and ministers to find other ways. People like Yang Tinghe, Yang Yiqing, and Xie Qian may be able to help her.
.
Even if there is a conflict between Yang Tinghe and Yang Yiqing, as long as it involves Empress Dowager Zhang's mediation, that is not necessarily the case.
Huo Tao said: "I also understand that it is a bit unbelievable to say this. There may be too many conspiracies behind it, but I am just putting forward an idea. Since your Majesty proposed the ceremony last year, the palace has been too quiet.
Up to now, Hou Ninghou and Jianchang Hou have not returned to the capital... Some people have been saying that they want to confer the title of Duke of Chang on Shouning Hou, but there is only wind but no rain, and no actual action has been taken. Will the Queen Mother really swallow her anger? "
"Um."
Zhang Cong nodded.
Regarding the ceremony, Empress Dowager Zhang's behavior was indeed too abnormal, as if everything had nothing to do with her.
Even though the father and son Zhu Youtang and Zhu Houzhao have passed away, Empress Dowager Zhang is still alive after all. The ethical issues of the royal family are still in the hands of Empress Dowager Zhang. The reason why Empress Dowager Zhang could not listen to politics behind the curtain was mainly due to the restrictions of civil servants such as Yang Tinghe.
.
But now Queen Mother Zhang really wants to take charge of the overall situation...
It's a reasonable thing.
"I don't know yet."
Zhang Cong really can't understand.
In fact, many people don’t understand it, including people in history.
The Empress Dowager Zhang sent an adopted son back to his biological parents, which is very strange no matter how you look at it. It can only be said that although the monarchs and ministers of the Ming Dynasty had conflicts, they still adhered to the principle of not endangering the stability of the Ming Dynasty.
It doesn’t matter who you recognize as your father, just don’t let the Ming Dynasty and the country suffer disaster with you.