In the garden of the back hall of Kunning Palace, the grass and trees are green and the flowers are in bloom. Under the reflection of the setting sun, the scenery is very pleasant.
Zhu Houzhao was sitting next to the fish pond watching the fish. Queen Xia was holding a silver plate with some fish food in it for Zhu Houzhao to take and throw into the water. A group of goldfish were fighting for the bait that Zhu Houzhao had sprinkled in the water, and the noisy water rippled.
Zhu Houzhao's pale face was filled with haloes of light.
Zhu Houzhao was not in the mood to hang out in the Leopard Room these days. There was a lot of commotion outside, and he already felt threatened. So, at this time, he stayed with the Queen of Kunning Palace. First, he made some gestures, and second, he
Come here to be clean and think about things.
Queen Xia has rarely seen the emperor since she got married. The emperor came to Kunning Palace only a handful of times. Queen Xia didn't have much expectations for the emperor. He already knew the emperor's virtues in the palace. Fortunately, she has a calm temperament.
, being a simple man, he doesn’t really care.
When the emperor came, she took good care of her. When the emperor was not in the palace, she stayed in the palace. At this moment, Queen Xia sat beside her with a gentle expression, looking at her husband quietly. Her husband
Although he was teasing the fish, his brows were furrowed and he seemed unhappy.
"Your Majesty, it's getting cold in the morning and evening, so go inside." Queen Xia said softly.
Zhu Houzhao waved his hand and said: "It doesn't matter, I'm waiting for someone."
Queen Xia said: "Then I will go and get a long coat for the emperor to wear."
Zhu Houzhao did not comment or answer. Queen Xia bowed and left slowly.
At this moment, Zhang Yong walked quickly from the corridor holding his robe.
"Your Majesty, people are coming." Zhang Yong shouted.
Zhu Houzhao raised his head and said happily: "Are you here? Please come quickly." After saying this, he sprinkled all the bait in his hand into the fish pond and stood up.
Zhang Yong turned around and ran away. After a while, Zhu Houzhao saw the figures of Xu Guangzuo and Zhang Yanling's son-in-law approaching.
"Mr. Xu is here, uncle is here." Zhu Houzhao greeted him with a loud smile.
Xu Guangzuo and Zhang Yanling kowtowed to Zhu Houzhao. Zhu Houzhao hurriedly recovered and asked Zhang Yong to bring stools for Xu Guangzuo and Zhang Yanling to sit next to a blooming rose bush.
"Uncle, I've been waiting for you to come. It's been a long time since uncle came to the palace to see me." Zhu Houzhao said with a smile.
Zhang Yanling rolled his eyes. He didn't want to say polite words, so he got straight to the point.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. Duke Dingguo has already told me about the matter. At this time of national crisis, I will do my duty without any hesitation. As long as the Emperor needs it and the court needs it, I will naturally be duty-bound."
Zhu Houzhao said happily: "I knew that my uncle would be willing to accept the situation. I am so happy."
Zhang Yanling said: "Your Majesty, don't be too happy too early. The current situation is extremely urgent and dangerous, and I may not be able to achieve success even if I lead the army. I can only do my best."
Zhu Houzhao said: "Uncle, there is no need to be humble. I have high expectations for my uncle to take action. I will definitely not let me down."
Zhang Yanling said with a smile: "Your Majesty is telling the truth. I want you to succeed. Well, since I am willing to take over, I must resolve the matter quickly. Otherwise, I would not agree to lead the army. However, if you want to ensure success,
Your Majesty needs to agree to a few requests of mine before I can ensure that the rebellion is quelled."
Zhu Houzhao said hurriedly: "Tell me, how many soldiers do you need? How much food and grass do you need? I will give them all."
Zhang Yanling said: "It doesn't take many soldiers and horses. I only need to lead two battalions of troops and horses out of the capital. In addition to my Yangwei Battalion, Young Master Xu Yande's Yaowu Battalion can go out with me. In addition,
A few guards and horses from Bazhou are enough."
"Xu Yande Yao Wuying? Does Duke Ding agree?" Zhu Houzhao looked at Xu Guangzuo and asked.
Xu Guangzuo said in a deep voice: "I naturally agree. This time is a time of crisis. The veteran must send his son to the battlefield and order him to fight for the court and the emperor. Only in this way can we repay the emperor's kindness to our Dingguo Duke.
.If it weren’t for the fact that I am old, I would have wanted to lead the army myself.”
Zhu Houzhao nodded and said: "At the critical moment, my relatives still know how to be grateful. I am very touched. If so, then it is correct. Uncle, are the two battalions a little short of soldiers and horses? Do you want to transfer another battalion?"
Zhang Yanling shook his head and said: "The main purpose of the capital's troops is to defend the capital. We cannot deploy too many. The safety of the capital is the first priority. Besides, when I use troops, I want elite soldiers and horses, and you don't need many more."
Zhu Houzhao smiled and said: "Okay, I will listen to you. This matter is settled. We will mobilize the two battalions of soldiers and horses to follow you."
Zhang Yanling cupped his hands in thanks and said in a deep voice: "The above is the first request. The second request is that I ask the emperor to grant me the power to do my own military affairs."
"Self-specialized in military affairs?" Zhu Houzhao frowned.
Zhang Yanling said solemnly: "I don't like others to restrain me when I use my troops. This time, I don't want someone to come and quarrel with me about military affairs. This includes the three guards of Tianjin and the guards of various prefectures.
The garrison, the three guards and horses transferred from the border towns, all need to listen to my orders. I want them to command like my arms. No matter who he is, if he disobeys the order, I have the right to kill him."
Zhu Houzhao pondered for a moment, then nodded and said: "I see. I allow you to specialize in military affairs. I appoint you as the general who suppresses thieves. I give you a seal, a ribbon, and a sword, so that you can do things easily."
Zhang Yanling nodded and said: "Your Majesty has such trust, I feel at ease. I am out to suppress thieves, and I don't want this matter to be criticized. The purpose of specializing in military affairs is to fight better, not because I have any other ideas. This
I want to make it clear in this section. I know some people like to talk."
Zhu Houzhao laughed and said: "I understand that if anyone gossips at this time, I will not spare him. Do you have any requests?"
Zhang Yanling nodded and said: "There is also a third request, which is that I want to use some firearms and artillery this time. Artillery and firearms consume a huge amount of money, and the military expenditure must be acknowledged by the court. Some things were made by me myself, and the emperor also knows it.
of."
Zhu Houzhao looked at Zhang Yanling in surprise and said, "Did you build an artillery piece?"
Zhang Yanling said: "Your Majesty, I forgive you. I just want to improve the court's artillery. This is the lesson I learned in Guangdong. When we captured Tuen Mun that day, we fought a naval battle with the Fo Lang machine. The Fo Lang machine gun was too powerful, and our Ming Dynasty artillery was not as good as it. So.
During this time, I discussed this matter with some craftsmen and tried to imitate a few doors. Since I was going to put down the rebellion this time, I wanted to take it out to try. I haven't had time to report this matter to the emperor. I will report it to the emperor today.
.”
Zhu Houzhao smiled bitterly and thought to himself: You took the opportunity to tell this, so as not to be accused of secretly manufacturing artillery in the future. This does require my endorsement.
But last time in Xuanfu, it would have been really troublesome if Zhang Yanling didn't have the firearms made by himself. Anyway, he paid for these things himself to fight the war for the court. As long as he didn't have second thoughts, then why should he be blamed? I'll find him in the future.
Just take the opportunity to collect all his firearms.
"Okay, but if it costs a lot, the imperial court's military budget may be tight. Try not to use it if you don't need it. That thing consumes too much money." Zhu Houzhao said.
Zhang Yanling said: "I can advance the money myself. As long as the court does not default on the debt, it will be returned to me slowly."
Zhu Houzhao nodded and said with a smile: "That's okay. I didn't expect that the Ming Dynasty would actually be reduced to the point where I asked my ministers to bring their own funds to fight the war. I don't know what to say."
Zhang Yanling said: "Everything will be fine. Your Majesty, there is no need to worry. Let's handle things one by one. Let's put down this rebellion first. Besides, everything I have is given by the Emperor. How can I still be so clear with the Emperor?"
?As long as the emperor trusts me and doesn't let other people's words sway him or become dissatisfied with me, that's fine."
Zhu Houzhao nodded repeatedly and said: "I understand. In times of crisis, my family is still useful. My uncle is sincere to me. I completely understand now."
Xu Guangzuo listened to these words and sighed secretly in his heart. Zhang Yanling finally understood the game. He couldn't say anything in a black and white conversation in front of the emperor. At one moment, he was getting close, and at another moment, he was holding a gun and a stick. At another moment, he was showing off.
Loyalty, and then expressed dissatisfaction. He said everything life and death. The emperor followed his words completely.
"I have one last request. That is the issue of post-war appeasement. Please tell me clearly that the reform of Ma Zheng and Tianmu New Deal in Hebei must be stopped." Zhang Yanling said solemnly.
Zhu Houzhao frowned and said: "This... has nothing to do with counterinsurgency. Let's discuss it later."
Zhang Yanling said solemnly: "Of course it is related. This is a harsh government, and the main culprit of the people's rebellion this time is this policy. As early as last year, when I came back from Ningxia and passed by Hebei, I told the emperor some things. I said
If Hebei continues to cause trouble like this, something will happen, but the emperor didn't care at all at the time. But now it still confirms what I said. If this bad government is not abolished, trouble will happen in the future. The Ming Dynasty will never have peace. The emperor should think twice."
Zhu Houzhao rubbed his hands and said, "But, the court's finances and taxes..."
Zhang Yanling said: "For the sake of some money from scraping the land, it is just drinking poison to quench thirst. Regarding finance and tax matters, after I put down the rebellion, I will have a big plan to present to the emperor. But the harsh government in Hebei cannot continue."
Zhu Houzhao thought for a while and said: "Well, I will call the ministers back to discuss and decide on this matter. If they all say that they want to be abolished, I will follow the good advice. This is a major government policy, and I cannot abolish it just by saying it is abolished."
Zhang Yanling nodded and said: "That's fine, then we will decide it through discussion."
Although Zhang Yanling was talking about the shortcomings of Hebei's New Land Deal, he was actually assigning responsibility for the rebellion. If the New Deal led to people's rebellion, Liu Jin must be held accountable.
Zhu Houzhao obviously heard this, so he hesitated a little. If someone else had mentioned this matter at this moment, Zhu Houzhao would probably have stared at him. But this was Zhang Yanling. And it was true that Zhang Yanling had warned him about the incident in Hebei last year.
Zhu Houzhao actually knew in his heart that it was an issue with the New Deal. However, it involved Liu Jin, and Zhu Houzhao had difficulty making a decision.
Although Zhang Yanling was annoyed, he also knew that it would be difficult for Zhu Houzhao to hold Liu Jin accountable. The relationship between Zhu Houzhao and Liu Jin was too deep, and Zhu Houzhao could no longer live without Liu Jin. Therefore, even if Liu Jin made many mistakes, Zhu Houzhao
Will still choose to cover up.
But killing Liu Jin is not about this matter.
"In that case, I will go back and make preparations and wait for the imperial decree to send out troops. I will also go to the Queen Mother. I will retire." Zhang Yanling stood up and bowed.
Xu Guangzuo also stood up and saluted.
Zhu Houzhao said: "Then Uncle Lao will be there. I will immediately order someone to prepare, reinstate your official position, and stop your punishment. Within two days, you will lead the army to quell the rebellion. I am waiting for the good news of your quelling the rebellion. If this time
If you succeed in countering the rebellion, I will reward you heavily. If you fail..."
Zhang Yanling said solemnly: "If you don't succeed, come to see me. I will issue a military order."