In the duty room of the Yamen of the Ministry of War, Jin Wang Li Zhi and Zhang Xingcheng sat opposite each other. The open windows let in the cool breeze, and the yard outside the window was shaded by green trees and the scenery was pleasant.
Li Zhi was holding a teacup in his hand, frowning and said dissatisfiedly: "These gangsters are going too far, aren't they? You are the Minister of War appointed by the Political Affairs Hall, the head of the official Ministry of War, but they actually dare to act against the will and make their own decisions.
It’s really hateful!”
To this day, his title of "Inspector of the Ministry of War" has not been lifted, and he still sits in the Ministry of War. After Fang Jun's painstaking efforts over the years, the Ministry of War has already become an important government office among the six bureaus, second only to the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Household Affairs.
Apart from the fact that it does not have the power to command operations, the real power of appointing generals of the imperial army, logistics and transportation, and appointing guards, etc., all rest with the Ministry of War.
How could Li Zhi let go of such an important yamen?
Moreover, he has already connected with Xiao Yu privately, and the powerful families in Jiangnan and Shandong are advancing and retreating at the same time, which is equivalent to having already occupied the two highest official positions in the Ministry of War.
But he was hung up and couldn't control the ministry at all...
You can imagine the anger and frustration in my heart.
Zhang Xingcheng was persuaded by Cheng Yaojin, and he was no longer as aggrieved as before. However, seeing that Li Zhi was very unhappy at this moment, he naturally followed the other party's words and sighed: "The incompetence of the humble minister has caused His Highness to be humiliated. It is really a crime."
They deserve to die...but for the time being, let them alone. Duke Yue runs the military department like an iron bucket, and it is unrealistic to find a way in and win people's hearts in a short period of time."
Even if he is sidelined, there is still a title of Minister of the Ministry of War on his head. As long as the prince is deposed and Fang Jun loses power, sooner or later the Ministry of War will be his own. But what if the King of Jin reacts strongly at this time, causing everyone in the Ministry of War to join forces
The boycott made the situation tense, and ministry affairs were put on hold. "No one knew how many people were ecstatically involved in it. I, the Minister of War, was afraid that my butt would be kicked off before I even sat down..."
As for whether the Ministry of War would make any contribution to the Jin crown's struggle for heir apparent, he didn't care now.
The situation is unclear and variables still exist. Even within the Shandong Aristocratic Family, they all hold their own opinions and have not yet unified their will...
Li Zhi was speechless, and after a while he asked: "Lu Guogong is reorganizing the Zuowu Guard. It is very possible that my father will recruit him to join the Beijing Guard. I wonder how it will go?"
Zhang Xingcheng said: "Lu Guogong has now stationed in the military camp and is going all out to reorganize the troops. However, he was the vanguard all the way to the east and suffered heavy losses. After returning, he did not reorganize in time. As a result, the loss of ordnance and soldiers became even more severe. There was no March or May.
Time will make it difficult to restore the original combat strength."
During the Eastern Expedition, Cheng Yaojin and Xue Wanche had been the vanguards of the army, attacking cities and plundering territory, destroying cities and villages. While making great achievements, they also suffered heavy losses. After returning to Guanzhong, the situation became increasingly tense. Although they did not participate in major battles,
However, the failure to replenish troops and maintain ordnance in time caused the army's combat effectiveness to plummet.
Li Zhi frowned and said: "You personally keep an eye on the ministry. All the ordnance needed by Zuo Wuwei will be allocated to the generals and soldiers assigned first."
Although there are many people in the court recommending Cheng Yaojin to lead his army to the city to defend the capital, and the emperor is also interested, after all, the official decree has not yet been issued. The longer this matter is delayed, the more variables will increase. Zuo Wuwei must be allowed to leave this morning
Reorganization completed.
Zhang Xingcheng smiled bitterly: "It's not because I'm lazy, but I'm really powerless... And I advise Your Highness not to try to put pressure on those ruffians, otherwise they will definitely embarrass Your Highness."
Not to mention anything else, if Li Zhi asked Cui Dunli and the others to provide military equipment to Zuo Wuwei as soon as possible, Cui Dunli would say as if he were treating himself: "The ministry is short of money and food. Not only are the workshops in the ministry unable to resume work, but also the salaries of the officials in the ministry."
"Not paid in full", what should you do?
An Eastern Expedition, with the whole country's efforts, has depleted the national treasury; and the Guanlong clan launched a military revolt. The entire Guanzhong agriculture and commerce were in decline, and all industries were in ruins. Repairs were needed everywhere, and money and food were needed for everything. Where could the Ministry of Civil Affairs get it?
money?
What's more, just one casting bureau's resumption of work will cost hundreds of thousands of coins...
Li Zhi was stunned for a moment, then became furious. He slapped the coffee table next to him and shouted angrily: "The Ministry of War is an imperial yamen. When did it become a personal plaything? These people are simply bullying others!"
However, he himself also understood that at least for now, he had absolutely nothing to do against Fang Jun and the officials at the Ministry of War. He could only act incompetently and furiously.
He even dared not report the matter to his father, because not only would his father not stand up for him, but he would be disappointed with his incompetence. How could the world be brought to peace if even a mere military department couldn't settle it?
*****
The military camp by the Kunming Pool was quickly built. The simple barracks made of cement, composite soil and masonry are simple, elegant, spacious and bright, and can be settled in after half a month of drying.
The Sixth Army of the East Palace withdrew from Chang'an City one after another and entered the newly built military camps in batches. This made the atmosphere in Chang'an City increasingly tense. Everyone knew that the complete withdrawal of the Sixth Army of the East Palace from Chang'an meant that the Yi Chu incident was inevitable.
The foundation of the prince's power is gradually crumbling, and countless people are either waiting and watching, or participating, waiting for the new crown prince to be announced.
In the past dynasties, Yi Chu was an earth-shattering event. It was uncertain when a huge conflict would break out, and countless people would be swept into it and suffer disaster...
Therefore, who will replace Donggong Liu and lead the garrison of the capital naturally attracts much attention.
…
In the monastery in the backyard of Ximing Temple, Li Zhi and Xiao Yu met secretly.
The wind blows the leaves outside the window, and the shade of the trees is thick. The fragrance of tea in the monastery is dense and quiet. Xiao Yu strokes his beard, frowns, and says in a slightly complaining tone: "The old minister has warned His Highness several times not to meet each other often in extraordinary circumstances. Your Highness has
You can just ask the servants in the palace to bring the words to the old minister, so why bother asking the old minister to meet here?"
The current situation is tense and there are too many variables. Your Majesty has not yet made a decision on the choice of the crown prince. It is difficult to guarantee that he is not examining the forces behind your highnesses. Whether the interests represented by the various forces can be integrated with your majesty's philosophy of governing the country and the interests of the imperial power. This is
Your Majesty's first priority.
In particular, the sudden impeachment of King Wei a few days ago has caused turmoil in the government and the public. How could His Majesty not be worried that once the King of Jin unites with the powerful families in Jiangnan and Shandong, he will completely suppress King Wei and the other princes. Once he becomes the crown prince, he will
Will ascending the throne pose a huge threat to these princes?
Power always needs to be restricted. When one party is absolutely powerful enough to crush all parties, it will be a huge disaster...
Although the King of Jin was smart and understood this truth, at critical moments he would inevitably worry about gains and losses and become restless.
Still need to practice...
Li Zhi took a sip of tea to moisten his throat and said with a wry smile: "It's not that I don't know the importance, it's that guarding the capital is too important, but my father still refuses to make a decision to this day, which makes it difficult for me to sleep and eat well.
What if my father does not appoint Duke Lu and chooses other generals instead?"
Guarding the capital is not only the most determined step in the fight for the throne, but also means that who the father's heart is is really important to the prince who is aspiring to the throne.
If he could gain the favor of his father and succeed to the throne smoothly, who would be willing to fight at the last moment and go against his father's wishes?
Otherwise, even if the competition for reserves is successful in the end, it will still be due to the essential difference.
In the "Xuanwu Gate Incident", my father won a great victory, but his counterattack to seize it became an indelible stain in my father's life. Even though my father led the generals of the Tiance Mansion to capture most of the Tang Dynasty, the "Xuanwu Gate Incident"
In the future, I will also face the crisis of unstable imperial power. How can I, a prince who has "grown up in the palace" and "a fledgling", face the doubts and opposition of the people in the world?
What's more, the reason why my father was able to achieve the success of the "Xuanwu Sect Change" is that the interests of the entire Tiance Mansion have long been tied to his father. Everyone will be prosperous and suffer losses. Everyone abandons life and death and moves forward indomitably. But I
If we get to that point, do we expect the powerful families in Jiangnan and Shandong to live and die with us?
Don't tie him up and offer him to the new emperor to ask for credit. Thank God...
Xiao Yu sipped the tea and said calmly: "Your Highness, please be patient. At least so far, your chances are still greater than those of King Wei. If there is no sudden incident, there will be no reversal of changes. The more you behave, the more
Being calm and calm becomes more appreciated in His Majesty's eyes. From the perspective of an experienced minister, the main reason why His Majesty has not yet made up his mind is that the current situation is not completely under control and he still has doubts in his mind."
The matter of Yi Chu is of great importance. As the reserve is abolished, the interests of all parties will be involved. Some people will be happy and some will be disappointed. It is difficult to ensure that the political situation is unstable.
His Majesty will not easily depose someone without absolute certainty of stabilizing any unexpected situation.
After all, with the sudden mutiny of the Guanlong clan, the power structure of the entire empire has undergone earth-shaking changes. It will take time to regain control of all this...
The first thing to bear the brunt is the stability of the clan.
As Li Yuanjing failed in his rebellion and was exterminated, the clan was naturally frightened and uneasy, fearing that he would be involved in the dispute. In addition, after Yi Chu's interests were turbulent, panic was inevitable. Who knows what the princes of the clan thought?
If it cannot be completely suppressed, once trouble occurs, it will shake up the political situation and cause immeasurable damage to His Majesty's reputation.
Li Zhi nodded in approval and sighed: "It seems that the Prince of Hejian County is coming back."
Xiao Yu raised his head and glanced at Li Zhi, feeling amazed at His Highness's keen sense of smell. This was not a conclusion that could be reached just by thinking about it. Li Xiaogong was guarding the Western Regions and there was no room for failure. Who would dare to easily transfer him back to Chang'an?
But except for Li Xiaogong, no one else could convince the clan kings...
He praised: "Although the Prince of Hejian County is inclined to the East Palace, at that time, the East Palace is the most important place of the country, and it is understandable to be loyal to him as a minister. But since the abolition of the crown prince is imminent, the position of the Prince of Hejian Province is extremely important for the ownership of the throne.
, Your Highness must be well aware of this."
With Li Xiaogong's prestige and influence within the royal family, His Majesty Li Er will definitely ask him about his thoughts on the ownership of the throne, and the opinions given by Li Xiaogong will definitely influence His Majesty Li Er's final decision.
The ownership of the reserve position means the distribution of interests, which not only involves the various factions above the court, but also affects the distribution of power within the clan. How can His Majesty Li Er, who is arbitrary and arbitrary, be able to act as he pleases?