Chapter 441: Asking for hardships (Happy New Year)
Zhen Zidan, a member of the Jinyiwei family, admires Zhang Yuan very much. If Zhang Yuan had not been present in the murder case at Weitai Restaurant last night, neither he nor the people from the Nancheng Military and Horse Division would have traced the shopkeeper Zhai Dongsheng and the Jurchen who was behind it.
The most likely possibility was to use a North Korean envoy's companion as an atonement to settle the case. It was Zhang Yuan's wisdom and carefulness that prevented the Jurchens' alienation plan from succeeding. Therefore, after Zhen Zidan asked for instructions from Qianhu Wang Mingshi, she came to Zhang Yuan to report the progress of the case.
, listen to Zhang Yuan’s opinions——
At this time, Zhen Zidan was surprised and happy to hear Zhang Yuan say that the red-faced scholar was most likely the son of an old slave from Jianzhou. Nurhachi founded the country at the beginning of the year and proclaimed himself a khan, competing with the Ming Dynasty.
It is intolerable to say that, but the current Wanli Emperor is no longer the Wanli Emperor who advocated the three major conquests twenty years ago. Money accumulation, laziness, old illness and the so-called inaction have made the Wanli Emperor muddle along, for fear that his ministers will sue him for the Liao incident.
Please allocate the money from the inner treasury to pay for the army, so he just issued an edict to rebuke Nurhachi without making any preparations for conquest. Of course, if Nurhaci could be punished severely without spending money, then Emperor Wanli would definitely be happy, so if
Being able to capture Nurhachi's son, and crushing Donglu's alienation plan, with these two achievements, promotion and fortune are certain——.
But Zhang Yuan said again: "After Ang Aba is caught, it will be very difficult to arrest the red-faced scholar. The snake will immediately run away. The red-faced scholar is extremely cunning. He probably doesn't live outside Zhengyang Gate, even now."
It’s already too late to seal off the nine gates of the inner city.”
Zhen Zidan said: "If we can't search in the city, please ask the Fifth Army Governor's Office to send a letter to all the passes from Shanhaiguan to Liaodong to strictly check the suspicious people who leave the customs."
Zhang Yuandao: "This is the only way." He thought to himself: "If the red-faced scholar is really Huang Taiji, I'm afraid it will be difficult to catch him. Huang Taiji is very resourceful and has prepared a way out in advance. Anyway, this matter should be able to make the court
The ministers in China were on alert to Nurhaci's ambitions. Since the Later Jin Dynasty had begun to drive a wedge between the Ming Dynasty and North Korea, it seemed that the time to launch troops against the Ming Dynasty was not far away. In the past, Nurhaci often used the opportunity of paying tribute to understand the reality of the Ming Dynasty.
, has not paid tribute to the Ming Dynasty for five years, and has instead used spies to spy on the inside story of the Ming Dynasty. The prelude to the Sarhu War has begun."
Zhen Zidan bid farewell to Zhang Yuan at the end of the Yuhe Beiqiao Bridge and hurried back to Fusi Yamen in Beizhen. King Mingshi of Qianhu was reporting the case of Weitai Restaurant to Luo Sigong, the commander of Jinyiwei. Zhen Zidan also stepped forward to reply. Luo Sigong said: "This case
It is so important that I will immediately enter the palace to report it to the Holy One." The Jinyiwei is a secret service agency that directly obeys the emperor's orders. The commander of the Jinyiwei can request to enter the palace to see the emperor at any time, and is not subject to the restrictions of the cabinet and the six departments.
Luo Sigong sent an order to the Military and Horse Division of the Five Cities to conduct strict checks on the young men leaving the city, and asked the clerks from the Weitai Restaurant to follow and monitor the nine gates in the inner city. After the arrangements were completed, Luo Sigong arranged his clothes and prepared to enter the palace, and said to Wang Mingshi: "Wang Qian
Household, send those three Koreans back to the Huitong Hall and explain them properly so as not to harm the peace."
Wang Mingshi and Zhen Zidan invited the North Korean petitioner Jin Zhongqing and two companions to explain the Jurchen Jurchen conspiracy to drive a wedge between the Ming Dynasty and North Korea. A Jurchen spy had been captured. Jin Zhongqing was relieved. Of course, there was nothing to complain about, and he also wanted to praise it.
Officials of the Ming Dynasty were very efficient and found out the truth of the case overnight——
Wang Mingshi and Zhen Zidan sent Jin Zhongqing and three others back to the same hall, and then went to the Ministry of Rites to explain the matter of Weitai Restaurant to the doctor of the Ministry of Rites on duty, and asked the Ministry of Rites to buy wine to calm the North Korean envoys——
…
On the twenty-fourth day of the twelfth lunar month, at dusk, with the sun setting in the west and the snow clear, Zhang Yuan left the Hanlin Academy gate after leaving the office. He suddenly heard the endless "bang bang" sound in the imperial city. He was startled at first, but then he realized: " Today is the day to worship the Kitchen God. The Kitchen God has gone up to heaven, and the Qianqing Palace has begun to set off fireworks. There are many rules in the inner city, and only after the fireworks are set off in the palace can the common people set off fireworks until the end of the Lantern Festival."
Wang Dachui and the boy Baima are waiting for Zhang Yuan by the bridge. Laifu is busy buying new year goods to prepare for the New Year, and Wu Ling is busy with the bookstore. Now, the boy Baima who often follows Zhang Yuan is Wang Dachui and Shang Danran. The boy Baima is waiting for Zhang Yuan. Zhang Yuandao: "Uncle, the Chinese New Year in this capital city is not as lively as ours in Shaoxing. If we are in Shanyin or Kuaiji, on the day when the Stove Lord is sent to heaven, there will be beggars dressed as ghosts and jumping around to drive away the Nuo. Children are afraid and love to follow. This In the capital city, we only see officials running around the streets, saying they are searching for spies in Jianzhou, but taking the opportunity to extort money from shops, what kind of emperor is under the feet of the emperor, and he is still messing around."
Zhang Yuan couldn't help but shake his head, thinking: "If we can't catch Huang Taiji, it will make people in the capital panic."
The three masters and servants walked back to Lige Old Alley. When passing by the Huitong Hall, a guard caught up and crossed his hands and said, "Master Zhang, please wait a moment. Mr. Shao from the Ministry of Rites has invited you." Another guard hurried to the hall. Go and report——
Zhang Yuan thought: "Shao Fuzhong, a doctor in the Ministry of Rites, is the backbone of the Zhejiang Party and has a close relationship with Yao Zongwen. However, Shao Fuzhong also has friendship with my uncle Baosheng and my brother-in-law Shang Zhouzuo, but he is relatively cold towards me - what does this Shao Fuzhong want from me?"
After waiting for a while in front of the door, they saw Shao Fuzhong and two other heads of the Ministry of Rites, accompanied by North Korean envoy Liu Dongming and others, walking out of the hall. Liu Dongming stepped forward and bowed to Zhang Yuan: "Thank you very much, Zhang." Xiuzhan's sharp eye in solving the case has saved us from being framed by the Jurchen traitors. Today, the Ministry of Rites is hosting a banquet for distant ministers like us, and I would like to invite Zhang Xiuzuan to attend the banquet with me. Zhang Xiuzuan will definitely give me a favor."
Behind Liu Dongming, deputy envoy Xu Jun, petitioner Jin Zhongqing, and two other North Korean officials saluted and thanked Zhang Yuan. These two North Korean officials were the Zhengdan envoys who came to celebrate the New Year's Day of the 45th year of Wanli, and Shao Fuzhong, a doctor in the Ministry of Rites. He also cupped his hands and said, "Zhang Xiuzhuan, let's go together. You and I are both from Zhejiang, and we didn't get close to each other in the past. Let's have a drink together today."
Zhang Yuan returned the greeting and said, "Thank you very much." He ordered Baima to go back and report the news, but Wang Dachui still followed him.
The banquet of the Ministry of Rites was held in the back hall of the Yamen of the Ministry of Rites. In addition to three officials of the Ministry of Rites, including Zhang Yuan and Shao Fuzhong, and five Korean envoys, there was also a temple minister from Honglu Temple and a pedestrian from the Pingren Department. During the dinner, Zhang Yuan asked several North Korean envoys about Nurhachi's recent movements. North Korea is adjacent to Jianzhou and has a better understanding of the situation of Jianzhou. Many of the news about Jianzhou in the Ming Dynasty came from North Korea's memorials. The petitioner Jin Zhongqing said: "Now, except for the Yehe tribe, Nurhachi has wiped out all the Jurchen tribes. Last year, the eight-banner system was established. Each banner has five Jia La, one Jia La has five Niu Lu, and one Niu Lu has three Hundreds of warriors, which means that Nurhaci has no less than 60,000 warriors, in fact, more than that. According to my understanding, Nurhaci’s armored army alone has nearly 40,000 horsemen and more than 50,000 infantrymen——"
Shao Fuzhong was surprised and asked: "The slave chief has so many soldiers?" The implication seemed to be that he did not believe it.
Zhang Yuan believed that if Nurhachi had not had a strong military force, he would not have dared to rashly become an enemy of the Ming Dynasty. Although the Ming Dynasty's army now has far more infantry than the Jurchen's 100,000 cavalry, the Ming Dynasty has a vast territory and scattered soldiers, and
The combat effectiveness of the soldiers cannot be compared with that of the Jurchen army. According to historical data analysis, the Ming Dynasty’s Fourth Army led by Yang Hao in the Battle of Sarhu bluffed that it had 470,000 soldiers, but in fact there were only more than 100,000 soldiers. Nurhaci used six infantry and cavalry troops.
Around 10,000 people, the Ming Dynasty did not have much advantage in terms of numbers, and the combat effectiveness of the sergeants was far inferior, and the troops were divided into four groups. However, Nurhachi said, "I only go one way, so I only go one way." Therefore, it is said that Sarhuzhi
The disastrous defeat of the Zhan Ming Army seemed to have many accidental factors, but in fact it was inevitable——
However, Liu Dongming did not want to talk more about the incident of Houjin Nurhachi, and said to Shao Fuzhong: "Mr. Shao, the king of our country requests the heaven to enthrone the crown prince of our country. Can the Ministry of Rites of the heaven make a decision?"
Shao Fuzhong said: "Your king's eldest son is only fourteen years old this year. It seems too early to establish him as the heir apparent. Let's give it another two years."
Liu Dongming was quite annoyed and thought to himself: "Your crown prince was not canonized until he was twenty years old. Do you want me, the prince of North Korea, to be canonized at the age of twenty? This is really unreasonable. It is nothing more than deliberately making things difficult and trying to extort property."
Li Jin, the eldest son of King Gwanghae of Korea, is Liu Dongming's nephew. The Liu family is one of the few wealthy families in Korea, just like Wang Xie of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. Liu Dongming is the brother of Princess Huijang and serves as a second-rank internal guard general.
As a winter solstice envoy, I came to Beijing just to establish my nephew's identity as the crown prince as soon as possible, so that King Gwanghae's throne would be more stable, and the momentum of his cultural Liu family would naturally increase——
Liu Dongming said: "Master Shao, in our country, a man becomes a male at the age of fifteen. Our king's eldest son, Li Jin, is fourteen years old this year. It would be most appropriate for the Heavenly Dynasty to send an envoy to confer the crown prince of our country next year. Since Li Jin is the legitimate son,
He is also the eldest son, and there is no obstacle to him due to his status. I also ask Mr. Shao to speak kindly to Minister He and send an envoy to canonize him as soon as possible."
Shao Fuzhong said: "This requires the emperor's approval before he can send an envoy to grant the title. Envoy Liu, please don't be impatient. We will celebrate the New Year in the Ming Dynasty. After the Lantern Festival, Minister He will draft a canonization memorial and submit it to the emperor."
When Zhang Yuan heard about the envoy and canonization, he thought: "If I can take this opportunity to go to North Korea, I can not only understand the national conditions of North Korea and win North Korea's full support for the Ming Dynasty, but also inspect the Liaodong border defense on the spot. This is a great achievement."
It's a good thing that I am now above the court. If I want to save the country, I can no longer just talk in the study room like before. I have to do something real." Then he smiled and said: "If the decree of canonization is issued, I would like to
Go to Korea as an envoy, read thousands of books and travel thousands of miles."
Liu Dongming and other North Korean envoys were surprised and happy when they heard this. Historically, the envoys sent by the Ming Dynasty to North Korea were mostly the eighth-grade Xingren of the Xingren Department or the eighth-grade chief clerk of the Honglu Temple. When encountering such important events as the enthronement of the Korean king, the canonization of princes, and weddings,
For the ceremony, the Ming Dynasty would only send officials at the ministerial level to attend the ceremony. However, a noble scholar like Zhang Yuan has never been sent to North Korea. If Zhang Yuan can make the trip, it will be an honor for the North Korean government and the public.
Liu Dongming's achievements in sending an envoy to the Ming Dynasty, and judging from the frame-up case at Weitai Restaurant the day before yesterday, Zhang Yuan was very friendly to North Korea. Of course, Zhang Yuan was not able to send an envoy to North Korea just because he wanted to. This would have to be done by the Ministry of Rites and Honglu Temple.
, the Pingren Department will discuss the candidates and then submit them to the Emperor for approval——
Liu Dongming said happily: "It is indeed a blessing for our country that Zhang Xiuzuan is willing to come to our country - Mr. Shao, can our country request Zhang Xiuzuan to be a canonized envoy?"
Shao Fuzhong couldn't understand Zhang Yuan's intention. Going to a foreign country as an envoy was always a hard job. Apart from getting some gifts from the vassal state, there were no advantages, but many disadvantages. He traveled back and forth to Korea for at least half a year, and he didn't know what promotion he would miss.
, the opportunity for communication, and the long journey, bumpy boat and carriage, needless to say hard work, if you are not acclimatized to the climate, you may die, not to mention that Nurhachi in Liaodong is now arrogant and unsubordinate, and robbed the cattle and sheep of the soldiers and civilians on the border of the Ming Dynasty.
, traveling is not safe, so Shao Fuzhong can't understand why Zhang Yuan volunteered to go to North Korea. Isn't it really just for traveling thousands of miles?
Shao Fuzhong said calmly: "The envoy who canonize the crown prince of the Joseon Dynasty can only be determined after the emperor agrees to the canonization. It is too early to say this now, and he is a low-ranking official. How dare he make the decision." He thought to himself: "I want to discuss it with Yao Zongyuan and others.
See if Zhang Yuan’s proposal to envoy North Korea is just a false shot and he has another agenda?”
After drinking for a while, Zhang Yuan stood up to say goodbye when he heard the first beat of the forbidden drum. He had to rush back to his apartment in Lige Old Hutong before the curfew started. Liu Dongming and Jin Zhongqing made sure to give Zhang Yuan a ride. On the way, Liu Dongming
Expressing his eagerness for Zhang Yuan to go to North Korea as an envoy of the Celestial Dynasty, but now the edict to enthrone the crown prince cannot be issued, he has not been able to fulfill the king's orders and cannot return to the country. He is really anxious. The implication is that he wants to ask Zhang Yuan for help——
Zhang Yuan smiled and said: "In a few days there will be a Zhengdan court meeting. Envoy Liu can go to the emperor to request again. I will also submit a memorial to express the close relationship between your country and the Ming Dynasty. I expect the emperor will approve it."
Liu Dongming was overjoyed to see that Zhang Yuan was so sure. When he said goodbye to Zhang Yuan on the West Chang'an Street, he said, "Tomorrow is a holiday. I would like to visit Zhang Xiuzan at my house. Is it okay?"
This is obviously a gift. The rules in the officialdom of the late Ming Dynasty are very strange. Accepting gifts from officials and gentry of the country will be accused of bribery and corruption, but accepting gifts from distant ministers of the feudal state is ignored. I really don’t know why.
psychology--
Zhang Yuan said: "Welcome, why don't we come to the lower apartment for a light meal tomorrow at noon."
Liu Dongming said hurriedly: "I don't dare to disturb you. I, Deputy Envoy Xu and Jin Shenjun will visit us tomorrow afternoon at noon. A cup of tea will suffice."
At the beginning of Xu, Zhang Yuan and Wang Dachui returned to their apartment in the old Lige Hutong. Wang Dachui went to have dinner. Zhang Yuan entered the inner courtyard and saw that the candlelight in the main room facing north was bright, and the light shone on the long and short slender ice picks under the eaves.
It shines brightly, like crystal white whiskers growing from the eaves. This kind of beauty is rare in Jiangnan——
Zhang Yuanli struggled hard on the steps, broke off an ice pick, and rubbed it in his hand. The crystal was smooth and the ice sharpened his muscles and bones. Hearing Huixiang's "geeky" smile behind him, he turned around and asked, "Where's Weigu?"
Huixiang said: "It's in the madam's room."
Zhang Yuan entered his and Dan Ran's bedroom with an ice pick, and saw Dan Ran and Wang Wei playing chess on the wooden chessboard. The Yongchang chess pieces hit the catalpa wood chessboard, and the sound of the falling pieces was clear and sweet. Mu Zhenzhen and Yun Jin were sitting aside, and Mu Zhenzhen was really going to
A celadon lamp is brighter, and Yun Jin is sewing a child's clothes. This is for the child in Mu Zhenzhen's belly. Mu Zhenzhen's mother died early, and she didn't learn any other prostitute jobs except mending clothes, but Yun Jin
He is good at female celebrities——
"Who said wives and concubines must fight among themselves?" Zhang Yuan looked at the picture of a girl in front of him with some pride. The room was warm, and the ice pick in his hand began to drip -
After Shang Danran settled down, he looked up and saw Zhang Yuan, and said in surprise: "Zhang Lang is back, why are you playing with the ice pick? Isn't it cold?"
Zhang Yuan inserted the ice pick into an open vase of an elephant kiln that raised plum blossoms by the door, and said: "Plum blossoms need ice and snow to nourish them." He walked over to watch the chess game. Wang Wei took the white lead. The situation on the board was divided into two points. He knew it well. Wang Wei
Dan Ran's chess skills are better than Dan Ran's. If Wang Wei plays white, it will be more difficult for Dan Ran to win. It seems that Wang Wei is a little tolerant, and it will not be easy for Wang Wei.
Zhang Yuan took the hand towel handed by Mu Zhenzhen to dry his hands and said, "You guys go on, I'll go see my son."
Shang Danran warned: "My son is sleeping, your hands are cold, don't scare him."
Zhang Yuan said "hmm" and walked to the next door. Xiao Hongjian was sleeping soundly, accompanied by Zhou's mother and Yumei. Zhang Yuan rubbed his face to make it warmer and kissed his son's little cheek.
, he went to the study to write a memorial. He wanted to report to the emperor the interests of Hou Jin in sending spies this time, and requested to be sent as an envoy to North Korea...
"Master——"
Mu Zhenzhen came in with a cup of tea. She was more than six months pregnant and her waist was a little bloated, but she still walked nimblely, unlike other pregnant women who were stumbling with their backs stretched out and their bellies stretched out. Zhang Yuan did not say that he might go to North Korea as an envoy after the year.
This is a matter of fact, so as to prevent the family members from having a bad New Year.
Mu Zhenzhen picked up a volume of "Aesop's Fables" and was reading it. From time to time he raised his eyes to look at Zhang Yuan who was writing rapidly. When his eyes met with Zhang Yuan's, he smiled slightly. Suddenly his eyebrows furrowed and he covered his stomach with his hands. Zhang Yuan smiled and said:
"Have you started practicing boxing again?"
Mu Zhenzhen laughed out loud and said, "I have been moving a lot recently. Sometimes I have to move left and right for a long time."
Zhang Yuan said: "That's just playing with the little dragon stick."
Mu Zhenzhen smiled, stroking his belly with a look of anticipation on his face.
Zhang Yuan continued to write the memorial while saying: "Uncle Mu will be surprised when he comes to the capital next year."
Mu Zhenzhen blushed with embarrassment, and her heart was full of hope.
After writing the memorial, Zhang Yuan took out the thin volume of "Matteo Ricci's Memory Method" that Jinnige gave him yesterday. This was a literal translation of "Matteo Ricci's Memory Method" by Jinnige in Chinese. The pursuit of translation is fast, and this kind of translation is quite valuable.
Fortunately, Zhang Yuan has a strong understanding of the difficult parts. The first draft of Jinnige's translation was polished by Zhang Yuan in elegant classical Chinese, so that the Ming Dynasty scholars could understand it and understand it——
There were light footsteps and Wang Wei came in. Zhang Yuan asked: "How about winning or losing?"
Wang Wei said: "One win and one loss."
Zhang Yuan said: "It's hard for you."
Wang Wei knew the meaning of Zhang Yuan's words, smiled sweetly and said: "I enjoy it."
Zhang Yuan laughed and said, "Come Xiu Wei and help me translate the book. I will dictate it and you will write it."
Wang Wei sat next to Zhang Yuan and happily picked up the pen. The woman writing with the brush was so elegant and beautiful.
Shang Danran also came over to sit for a while and asked Zhang Yuan when he would take Jinglan and Jing Hui to play on the ice bed at Paozi River. Xiao Hui had asked him several times.
Zhang Yuandao: "Then let's go one after another tomorrow. There will be several North Korean envoys visiting tomorrow afternoon. After sending them away, we will go to Paozi River."
The baby's cry of "Wow" stopped abruptly. This was Xiao Hongjian reminding everyone that he was awake and that he had to eat, drink and defecate——
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The annual vacation is over and updates are resumed. On the third day of the first lunar month, Xiaodao wishes New Year greetings to book friends, wishing them happy families and everything goes well in the new year. We also ask book friends to continue to support Yasao.
Originally, in addition to the 5,000-word update, I also wrote a few thousand words, but there was a slight glitch in the middle and the connection was not good enough, so I put it to tomorrow and will continue the 5,000-word update tomorrow.
, please collect.
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