During the Mid-Autumn Festival, Empress Dowager Zhang ordered someone to send a message to Zhang Yanling to bring his wife and concubines to the palace for a reunion, which also happened to meet Zhang Yanling's new side room.
In the morning of that day, Zhang Yanling brought Xu Wanyi, Tan Ruqing and Axiu into the palace. Empress Dowager Zhang was very happy. Seeing that Tan Ruqing's character and appearance were very upright and her temperament was gentle and quiet, she couldn't help but lament that her younger brother was such a fool.
How lucky you are to be able to marry such a good woman.
Empress Dowager Zhang left them to have lunch, and Zhu Houzhao was naturally nowhere to be seen. Empress Dowager Zhang did not mention it, and Zhang Yanling did not ask. Obviously, the relationship between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor still did not make much progress.
In this matter, Zhang Yanling adheres to the principle of not talking too much. Although he wants to help his sister solve some entanglements between mother and son, Zhang Yanling understands that it is better not to come forward in some matters. Once he comes forward, it will cause greater trouble.
Misunderstandings and disputes. I am in the position of a foreign relative and uncle, which is actually quite embarrassing. If I interfere too much, the emperor will not be happy, and will think that I am nosy, and may even blame the queen mother. It is also easy for others to do something in it.
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Now the Queen Mother seems to have slowly come out of the grief of losing her husband, and there is a smile on her face. She also seems to have no expectations for her relationship with Zhu Houzhao. Why should she break her rare tranquility and forcefully bring their mother and son together?
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After dinner, Tan Ruqing took the initiative to take the pulse of Queen Mother Zhang and examined the body of Queen Mother Zhang. She found that the Queen Mother had some loss of vitality and blood, and was even malnourished. She was a little surprised. As the Queen Mother, how could she have such a condition?
Such a situation.
When I asked later, I found out that Queen Mother Zhang had been a vegetarian recently. She worked in the back garden every day and ate vegetables grown in the garden. In addition, she had been worried and sad for a long time, so she ate very little and irregularly.
This led to some disorders in the body's metabolism. The most worrying thing is that Queen Mother Zhang's affairs were irregular, large and dirty, and they were very taxing on the body.
When Zhang Yanling heard about this, she felt very guilty because she didn't care enough about her sister. There was something wrong with Queen Mother Zhang's health, but she didn't know about it. Now that her sister has no one to know her warmth, she lives alone in the palace every day.
In China, life is too frugal and the mood is not good, so how can problems not arise?
At that moment, Tan Ruqing prepared a prescription to nurse the Queen Mother. Tan's original job was to treat gynecological diseases, and she was a woman. She could communicate with the Queen Mother freely about many diseases and conditions, so it was naturally much easier to deal with. Zhang Yanling
It was suggested that Tan Ruqing should come to the palace at least once a month to check and regulate the Queen Mother's health. Queen Mother Zhang said no, but she was actually happy in her heart.
In the afternoon, Zhang Yanling had something to go back to deal with. Empress Dowager Zhang left Xu Wanyi to talk to Ruqing and Axiu, and Zhang Yanling took her leave first.
After leaving the Queen Mother's Palace and walking outside the palace gate, Zhang Yanling wanted to meet Zhu Houzhao when passing by the Qianqing Palace to see what his nephew was busy with if he did not go to see the Queen Mother during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
The Qianqing Palace was quite deserted, and there was no lively singing and dancing as Zhang Yanling imagined. That was the norm in the Qianqing Palace.
After entering the palace and walking around, I found that the back hall was also very deserted. Zhu Houzhao was not in the palace. Just as he was about to ask a young eunuch to ask about the situation, he suddenly heard someone calling him softly from the corridor.
"Master Hou, why are you here? Do you want to see the emperor?"
Zhang Yanling turned around to look, but it was Zhang Yong walking from the back corridor.
Zhang Yanling smiled and cupped her hands and said: "Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival. The Queen Mother summoned me to the palace. No, I came to see the emperor. The emperor seems not to be in the palace."
Zhang Yong bowed and saluted, and said with a smile: "The Emperor has gone to Qionghua Island."
Zhang Yanling was stunned for a moment, then nodded and said, "Has the construction of the Leopard House started?"
Zhang Yong nodded and smiled: "The construction started the day before yesterday. The emperor went hunting today. Liu Jin and the others brought a lot of wild animals and put them on the island. The emperor led everyone there early in the morning."
Zhang Yanling nodded slightly. Zhang Yanling knew about the construction of the leopard house on Qionghua Island and the release of wild tigers and leopards on the island. In order to please Zhu Houzhao, Liu Jin moved very quickly. The leopard house was started and the island soon became Zhu Houzhao's.
It is a permanent place of entertainment. In addition to wild animals, there may also be things like wives and child molestation.
"Why didn't Eunuch Zhang come with you?" Zhang Yanling said with a smile.
Zhang Yong chuckled and said in a low voice: "Master Hou, do you think Liu Jin and others are still willing to let our family accompany the emperor? Liu Eunuch, Gu Dayong and others are isolating me now, not informing me of anything, and saying nothing.
Avoiding me and looking for opportunities to slander me in front of the emperor. Our family has become a thorn in their side now. Lord Marquis, maybe next time you enter the palace, you won’t be able to see our family."
Zhang Yanling knew what Zhang Yong was talking about. Ever since he asked Zhang Yong to stay at Juyongguan to inform the reinforcements during his last patrol, Zhang Yanling and Zhang Yong had become close friends. Although Zhang Yong also had some bad habits of the eunuchs in the inner court, overall,
He is still an upright and loyal person, and he is quite disdainful of what Liu Jin and others have done.
Zhang Yanling and Zhang Yong have always maintained a private relationship. Not long ago, Zhang Yong informed Zhang Yanling of the recommendation list proposed by Liu Jin. Only then could Zhang Yanling respond in advance. It can be said that Zhang Yong was actually Zhang Yanling's eyes and ears in the palace.
"My father-in-law is tired." Zhang Yanling bowed and said sincerely.
Zhang Yong hurriedly returned the courtesy and said: "You are so polite, Mr. Hou. Our family is not very capable, but Mr. Hou is capable. We will be very happy if our family can help Mr. Hou."
Zhang Yanling said in a deep voice: "Don't worry, father-in-law, I won't let anything happen to my father-in-law. First, my father-in-law still has a status in the emperor's heart. Second, they don't dare to attack one of their own people yet. If the inner court is in chaos, there will be a counterattack.
Thirdly, I am thinking about something. If it succeeds, my father-in-law's status in the inner court will be greatly improved."
Zhang Yong was startled and whispered: "Master Hou, can you tell me in detail?"
Zhang Yanling smiled mysteriously and said: "I will make an appointment with my father-in-law for a detailed discussion after some time. What my father-in-law has to do now is to protect himself. In fact, there is no need to confront them, pretend to be submissive, improve the relationship, and avoid intensification of conflicts for the future. My father-in-law has an upright temper.
Although it is difficult to do this, a little impatience will mess up a big plan. Now they are in the limelight, why bother to stand on the edge of the knife? You might as well be softer."
Zhang Yong thought for a while, nodded and said: "Since Mr. Hou said so, our family will do it. However, it is really difficult for our family to flatter Liu Jin. When our family was in the East Palace, we beat Liu Jin.
.This bitch is still afraid of me.”
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "I know. But now and then, I have wronged you."
Zhang Yong nodded and said softly: "Master Hou, you should be more careful. Now Liu Jin and the others hate you to the core. They have scolded you many times in private. They said you betrayed him. They also mentioned it a few times in front of the emperor.
The thing about you is making firearms. You have to be careful about him causing trouble with this matter."
Zhang Yanling sneered and said: "I have already informed the emperor about the firearms. What can he do? Say that I secretly made firearms?"
Zhang Yongdao: "That's not the case. Our family heard that he wanted to ask the emperor to issue an edict asking you to donate firearms to the imperial court. What he meant was that even if the imperial court did not have much finances to manufacture firearms on a large scale to equip the army, at least the firearms
This kind of thing cannot fall into the hands of others. Even a small part of the equipment is a threat. He suggested that you be prohibited from making firearms and that you dedicate the method of making firearms to the inner court. The inner court will keep the firearms so that they will not be leaked and will not pose a threat.
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Zhang Yanling frowned and said, "What did the emperor say?"
"The emperor didn't say anything. He just said that the matter would be postponed for the time being. The emperor also told Liu Jin that the court would have to find ways to increase finances and taxes. With the money, it can improve the army's equipment. At that time, the prince can be asked to donate firearms.
Otherwise, it seems inappropriate to ask Mr. Hou to hand over the firearm at this time. He also said that the firearm is in the hands of Mr. Hou and he is not worried about any danger. Mr. Hou is not an outsider." Zhang Yong said solemnly.
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Zhang Yanling nodded slightly. It seemed that Zhu Houzhao still had his own ideas. If Zhu Houzhao followed Liu Jin's suggestion and wanted to hand over the firearm, then of course he would not be able to refuse. But if he did, it would make him unhappy. Zhu Houzhao obviously did not want to do that.
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If the imperial court had enough finances and taxes to purchase firearms as compensation and do so in the name of equipping the army, he would have nothing to say, and the reason would be even more legitimate. It’s not that Zhu Houzhao didn’t want to take away the firearms, he just didn’t want to confiscate them by force.
It’s just a way to do it.
Of course, another point is that Zhu Houzhao still trusts him, and he does not think there is any danger in having firearms in his hands.
"Master Marquis, we think you should be more careful. Liu Jin is extremely insidious. He whispers in the emperor's ears every day, and there is no guarantee that one day the emperor will be persuaded by him. This firearm must not get into his hands.
.The manufacturing method cannot be known to him. This is too dangerous." Zhang Yong whispered.
Zhang Yanling nodded and smiled and said: "Don't worry, father-in-law, I will deal with these things myself. Thank you very much, father-in-law, for telling me this. Eunuch Zhang, with you in the inner court, I feel more at ease. Believe me, don't watch Liu Jin and the others having fun at the moment.
The day he cried
.You just need to stand firm, make excuses with them, and protect yourself. Of course, you cannot participate in some perverse things, otherwise it will be difficult to clean up when the accounts are settled in the future. If you have any questions, you can come to me and I will take care of you.
You solve it."
Zhang Yong bowed and said: "Don't worry, Mr. Hou, our family will remember Mr. Hou's words."
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At the Zhenwei Camp station, on the large training ground, the soldiers of the Zhenwei Camp are training.
The training field is divided into several areas, separated by white and gray lines. Tens of thousands of soldiers and horses are divided into more than a dozen groups and are training their respective subjects.
After that day, Zhang Yanling formulated more than a dozen training subjects. Physical fitness, queues, orders, battle formations, assassinations, fighting, archery, riding and even barrack housekeeping were all covered.
On the teaching field, various settings such as sand pits, puddles, obstacles, crossbars, high platforms, rope nets, etc. were set up, and large sandbag fortifications were built to simulate complex terrain.
In order to achieve the goals of more than a dozen subjects proposed by Zhang Yanling, the soldiers have been scrambling on the training ground every day during this period. Even though today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, they are still training on the training ground.
When Zhang Yanling arrived on horseback, the sound of killings in the training field was loud. The soldiers were all covered in dust, mud and water, and their backs were dripping with sweat. Zhang Yanling looked at the scene in front of him and smiled with satisfaction.