The bells and drums at the Meridian Gate of the Imperial City of Nanjing are ringing in unison, and the sound spreads throughout the city. If there are death row criminals waiting to be executed in the bustling city at this time, this sound is undoubtedly announcing that the time has come and people are about to be separated from each other.
The capital used to be the capital of the Ming Dynasty, and it still has a complete set of institutions, and it has not been the capital for a long time. The Meridian Gate is the main entrance of the palace, and it is still very grand today, not much worse than the Forbidden City in Beijing. It is wider at the bottom and narrower at the top.
The city platform is simple and steady. On the city platform, there are five colorful buildings with yellow tiles, golden roofs and red eaves, forming the Five Phoenix Tower. There are also Que Tower, Bell Tower and Drum Tower on both sides.
The ground is covered with a whole bluestone slab, and an old man is kneeling on the slab. He has been kneeling here before dawn. When he first arrived, the civil and military officials passed by him to go to court, and later people came out from Zuoyemen.
, he is still kneeling here. No one pays attention to him, and no one asks him why he is kneeling here.
This person is Zhang Fu, the most prominent prince and nobleman in the Ming Dynasty today. He is a famous figure from the central government to the local government. However, facing this majestic imperial city, he can still only take off his official hat and kneel, showing his teeth and claws.
The carved building looks so small underneath.
He ended up in the situation he is in now, of course because he was defeated in the Huguang campaign, losing tens of thousands of troops, wasting no money on the national treasury and not making any meritorious service. They were all elite soldiers of the Ming Dynasty, and even the noble Wu Jinbo died in the battle.
Zhang Fu knelt here for a long time, thinking a lot. Some things he had figured out, and some things he still didn't quite understand... He couldn't figure it out. The Ming Dynasty had already felt a heavy burden to support this counter-insurgency war with its entire treasury.
This is the power of more than a dozen provinces; why can the rebels of the King of Hunan only really control Huguang to Jiangxi and mobilize manpower and material resources that are not inferior to the imperial army?
At this moment, the eunuch Wang Gou'er walked out from inside. Seeing Zhang Fu kneeling, he did not dare to go forward, so he walked around to the side and asked: "Why is the British Duke kneeling here?"
Zhang Fu said: "I bear the thorn bush to plead guilty, and wait for the emperor to punish me."
Wang Gouer said hurriedly: "Your Majesty didn't mention this matter today, you just need to wait at home."
Zhang Fu asked specifically: "Is this the emperor's will?"
"No. Our family heard that you have been here for a long time. We were afraid that you would not be able to bear it anymore due to your old age, so we came here to ask." Wang Gou'er said.
Zhang Fusui stopped talking, but had no intention of leaving.
Wang Gou'er said: "Then you wait first while we go to ask for the order."
Zhang Fu remained calm, but gradually became a little nervous in his heart. No matter how calm a person is, he cannot help but be nervous when faced with something that determines his fate. Just look at how the dog eunuch responded when he went to ask for an order. If the emperor met in person
They don't want to see each other again, so it's obviously a bad thing; if they are called in for questioning, even if they are scolded, there is still a way to go.
In normal times, even if the emperor wants to move a minister who is famous and has real power, it will not only be difficult, but also may cost 800 yuan. But this situation is different. Tens of thousands of people have died and important tasks have not been completed, and they can be found easily.
Hundreds of crimes were committed to punish Zhang Fu openly... Life and death depended on the emperor's words. It's not that Zhang Fu didn't want to take responsibility, he was really dissatisfied and wanted to make a comeback.
After waiting for a long time, Wang Gou'er came back and came to Zhang Fu's side and said: "Your Majesty asked the British Duke to come to the palace for an interview. Your Majesty wants to blame you for the reason for your defeat...just wait for the scolding!"
When Zhang Fu heard this, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief and wanted to get up, but he couldn't get up after kneeling for too long and his blood was blocked for a long time. Wang Gou'er had to step forward to help him. Zhang Fu finally stood up and asked Wang Gou'er to lead the way.
He is holy.
Zhang Fu was indeed a little worried before getting the reply, but now that he thinks about it, he seems to be a little worried. Back then, their father and son were the capable men who helped King Yan win the country, and they all deserved credit for their hard work. How could the third generation of the emperor of King Yan be so good?
To punish such a person to death all at once? Unless Zhang Fu was so confused that the emperor was alerted to his disobedience, death would not be that easy.
Wu Jinbo, who was most likely to die in battle, and Datong's commander-in-chief, he and his cavalry were also killed. Several generals in the Beijing camp were also involved. In such a big defeat, someone has to be unlucky.
Among these people, Zhang Fu felt that Wu Jinbo and Zhu Mian deserved their punishment, because this guy had screwed me over.
The place where Wang Gouer took Zhang Fu was not the main hall, nor the place where the emperor reviewed memorials, but a small study room in the side hall. Facing the saint in this way, the stone in Zhang Fu's heart fell even more...
It's the civil servants who can't kill people if they scold them.
Entering the room, he saw four people inside besides Emperor Xuande. Zhang Fu kowtowed when he entered the door: "I will be punished by death!"
"The person who deserves to die the most is Zhu Mian!" Zhu Zhanji was indeed in a bad mood, and spoke with anger, "Preach the decree and remove Count Wu Jin's title, fill up all the family property, and exile the whole family to Liaodong."
Zhang Fu said nothing. Although he had friendship with Uncle Wu Jin, his son, and his brothers in the past, and they were all nobles, Zhang Fu really didn't want to plead for him, and he didn't even want to show off. Even Zhang Fu didn't want to plead,
Zhu Mian's family may have no hope from now on.
Zhu Zhanji turned around and said, "British gentleman, I have something to ask you when you get up."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Zhang Fu climbed up carefully.
Zhu Zhanji didn't ask any questions, but said first: "In a mere Huguang area, there are hundreds of thousands of people with nothing to do. I want to take charge of the army and conquer it myself!"
The people present couldn't help but hesitate and hurriedly advised him. Zhang Fu thought to himself: Your Majesty, do you think you can march and form a formation better than us veterans who have been fighting for decades? It would be better if the emperor's grandfather were still alive. After thinking about it, he stepped forward to persuade him. It's nothing more.
It's like a long-lived body can't take risks lightly.
However, Zhu Zhanji didn't really intend to lead the expedition himself. The meaning of what he said was very simple. If you don't work hard to get things done, I will have to do it. In fact, he was blaming the people present for not getting things done.
People naturally looked ashamed and guilty.
...In addition to the emperor, Zhang Fu and the eunuch Wang Gouer who led the way, those present also included minister Yang Rong, official Yang Lin (Sihai), eunuch Haitao, and Jin Yiwei general Lu Qianshi.
Hai Tao had been knocked to the ground by Wang Gou'er a long time ago and almost died. He had committed such a heinous crime and had to guard the mausoleum in Fengyang for several years to reflect on it. But after all, he was an old official of the East Palace when Zhu Zhanji was the crown prince and a one-day emperor.
When he "accidentally" remembered Haitao and felt that although he was guilty, he was still loyal, he recalled Haitao with just one sentence, and immediately served as the director of etiquette, Bingbi, and the admiral of the Dongchang... In fact, because the emperor felt that Wang
Gou'er seemed a little unreliable, and he was worried about handing over all the power of the inner court to a eunuch. Nong Haitao came back to check and balance and monitor Wang Gou'er. Wang Gou'er suddenly showed his prototype. Although he was still the eunuch with the highest position, Dong Haitao
A large piece of the factory was handed over, and they were watched so tightly that they could not move.
Zhu Zhanji understood very well that these two eunuchs would never pee in a pot until they died. They were fighting each other in life and death, and there was no possibility of reconciliation. On the surface, they were fine, but their eyes were hostile, but
There wouldn't be a fight on the spot.
Yang Sihai was the youngest among the people present, that is, he was in his twenties. Being able to appear in the emperor's study at this age meant that his future was limitless. He was only a second-class Jinshi. He should really be grateful to Zhu for being able to get here.
Zhanji's undisturbed eye for discerning people and his good luck in climbing up Yang Rong, otherwise no matter how good he is, he would just be a second-class Jinshi in his twenties with little experience, and it would take a few decades to figure it out.
Yang Sihai seemed to have something to say, but when he looked at Zhang Fu and Yang Rong, he seemed to have the wisdom of a young man who understands his seniority. In the Jiujiang battle, Yang Sihai's best job was probably Yang Sihai's patrol in Jiangxi. If he won, he would be able to share the credit.
, this is probably because Yang Rong brought him to Jiangxi to be a censor; if he loses, it won't matter. He is just a patrol censor. He only has the right to participate in major matters and does not directly manage things. He cannot be blamed.
On the head.
Yang Rong was thinking about something, so Zhang Fu had no choice but to speak first: "I dare to think that the most important thing to prepare at the moment is to stabilize Nanjing's defense line, instead of rushing to attack again."
"Continue." Zhu Zhanji sat down on the chair.
Zhang Fu said: "Many people in the court still despise the Huguang bandits and feel that the rebels cannot threaten the capital. But I dare to assert that the rebels must be looking for Nanjing at this time! They will not cross the Yangtze River to go north for the time being.
First, we have defenders along the Yangtze River and control the water. It will be difficult for them to cross the river. Second, they rush into the north of the Yangtze River. There is no danger to defend in the east. Huguang will lose no territory or become bandits. Therefore, it is a safe way to take a look at Nanjing first.
The rebels also have the strength to advance eastward. In the defeat of Jiujiang, our army lost more than half of its elite troops and its morale was low. On the contrary, the rebels were not injured and could fight again after a few months of rest. The real bandits of the "Yongding Camp" were stronger than the elite soldiers of the official army.
The strong generals and more than 60,000 new troops are not without merit. If there are fighters, they can still launch a fatal attack on our army. Zhu Mian suffered a loss and lost his reputation. If he gathered a large number of troops to come west, he would only have to win another battle to defeat him.
The main force of our army can directly advance to Nanjing without any danger to defend it.
When he was in Jiangxi, after the defeat of the North Route Army and the destruction of Datong Jingqi, I considered the consequences, so I ignored my heavy responsibility and withdrew my troops to the east of Poyang Lake in order to preserve my strength and prevent the rebel army from having the opportunity to quickly march into the capital... If
If the thieves can occupy southern Zhili, I'm afraid they are willing to give up Huguang."
"Is the traitor really that strong?" Zhu Zhanji pondered.
Zhang Fu couldn't answer. Zhu Mian's tens of thousands of people were on the North Road, and most of them were killed or injured. The Datong soldiers were trapped in the northwest corner of Jiujiang and were destroyed in one day. If the thieves are not powerful, it only means that the official army is too weak.
, especially when the Datong soldiers were besieged, they still had water and food channels, and they were not completely out of ammunition and food. In addition, even if the 20,000 subordinate troops were besieged, they should not be eradicated so easily.
Zhang Fu did not dare not answer the emperor's questioning words, so he had to reply: "Back to the emperor, I think that they should not be treated as the same as bandits." He hesitated for a moment, and then said, "The rebels are fighting hard."
The killing power is not necessarily stronger than that of the official army, but I feel that they do not stick to the old rules in terms of tactical weapons, and many things are unpredictable. Especially the heavy artillery of the rebels. If you can get one and figure it out before the next battle,
It will be very beneficial to the imperial officers and soldiers."