Upon hearing Yang Sichang's words, all the generals in the second hall were stunned, wondering what Yang Sichang meant.
Zhang Yingyuan, the commander-in-chief of Baoding, raised his hand and said: "Superintendent, Li Zhi did not listen to your order to postpone the suppression of bandits and pursued Zhang Xianzhong without authorization! Not only did he not obey the order, he also commanded the troops and horses of other generals without authorization, as if he was a military commander."
Yang Sichang sighed and stared at the blue brick floor of the second hall, his eyes a little distracted. He said: "The governor asked Taibao Li Zhi to postpone the suppression of the bandits because he was afraid that the cold weather would freeze the soldiers, but since Li Zhi successfully captured and killed
It is a good thing to kill Zhang Xianzhong. I will report to the court to cite Li Zhi's merits..."
After saying this, Yang Sichang coughed violently again, almost coughing up blood. He drank a sip of tea while coughing, and finally suppressed the cough.
Meng Ruhu was a rough guy who didn't quite understand the philanthropy of literati. Looking at Yang Sichang's style, he felt like he was falling into the clouds. Yang Sichang obviously didn't want Li Zhi to make meritorious deeds. When he saw Li Zhi making meritorious deeds, he coughed like this,
He was obviously very angry, so why did he still say that it was a good thing that Li Zhi had made a meritorious service?
What is the truth behind this?
Zhang Yingyuan and Yuan Jixian looked at each other and guessed the reason why Yang Sichang did this.
In order to restrain Li Zhi, Yang Sichang verbally ordered the armies to postpone the suppression of bandits on the grounds of cold weather. This matter was already very sensitive and could easily be attacked by officials. However, Yang Sichang still ordered the armies in the name of public interest.
Now that Li Zhi had won the battle and killed Zhang Xianzhong, Yang Sichang naturally couldn't show his displeasure.
Yang Sichang not only had to be unhappy, but also had to eloquently praise Li Zhi and speak up so that the emperor could feel that Yang Sichang was a loyal minister and not a treacherous minister who influenced the country's situation for personal gain.
Yang Sichang had to maintain his image of being dedicated to the public good in front of the emperor in order to save his life. If he couldn't defeat Zhang Xianzhong, he would be accused of being a mediocre minister and would be dismissed at most. If the emperor felt that Yang Sichang was playing tricks of power and harming the general, he would lose his head and be stigmatized forever.
Can't wash it off.
So when Yang Sichang was so discouraged and desperate, and coughing so badly, he still praised Li Zhi for doing a good job against his will. Because Yang Sichang knew that his situation was over, at this time, his conversations with the governor and the general soldiers would be spread outside by interested parties.
If you are not careful, you will end up losing your head.
The emperor had so much trust in Yuan Chonghuan at that time, but finally found out that he had been deceived by Yuan Chonghuan. Yang Sichang thought he was smart, but he did not want to follow in Yuan Chonghuan's footsteps.
Zhang Yingyuan and Yuan Jixian looked at Yang Sichang, who was terminally ill but still cautious, and felt a little bored. Now that Yang Sichang was so wary of him, for fear that he would pass on his information, what else could they discuss with Yang Sichang?
Since Yang Sichang wants to go to the emperor to extol Li Zhi's merits, shouldn't he and others also go to the emperor to curry favor with Li Zhi? Li Zhi is so popular that it would be unkind not to speak up for Li Zhi.
As for people like me, I can't take off the label of being mediocre and paid. I'm afraid demotions will follow one after another.
Zhang Yingyuan and Yuan Jixian were somewhat uninterested and did not say anything more to Yang Sichang. They bowed their hands to Yang Sichang and stood up to leave.
Meng Ruhu thought about it for a long time, and slowly guessed the meaning. However, he was a straight-tempered man, and he was still grateful to Yang Sichang for lifting him up from the situation of guarding the border. Before leaving, he bowed to Yang Sichang to the ground and said loudly: "Mr. Ge, take care of yourself.
For the best!"
Yang Sichang gave a bitter smile, did not answer, and closed his eyes fiercely.
After seeing off the three guests, Yang Sichang sat on a chair, his face getting paler and paler. At this time, Yang Sichang was in trouble, and the best outcome was to be dismissed from his job and return to his hometown. He was ambitious and prosperous in his life, but he did not expect that it would end like this. Yang Sichang couldn't help but
Sadness comes from it.
When I entered the cabinet as the Prime Minister, I felt like a powerful man who controlled the affairs of the government, as if it were a lifetime ago.
He suddenly screamed and spat out a mouthful of blood on the ground in the second hall.
Several servants of the Yang family were frightened when they saw this scene. They hurriedly wiped the ground with their clothes, trying to wipe away the blood stain. But the blood stain was so easy to wipe away. The harder they tried, the more
The blood stains got bigger and bigger. They panicked, knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Yang Sichang.
"Master, you must protect your health."
"Master, I was guilty of not taking good care of you!"
Yang Sichang looked at the blood on the ground in surprise, and then he felt that his life was not long, and he was probably terminally ill.
Yang Sichang sighed and said slowly: "Li Zhi kill me..."
####
On the 15th day of the first lunar month, which was the Lantern Festival, there was a heavy snowfall in the capital. The Imperial City of the Ming Dynasty was covered in snow, and the palaces with double eaves and golden roofs were all covered with white snow, creating a unique scene.
In the Qianqing Palace, Emperor Zhu Youjian of the Ming Dynasty grabbed Li Zhi's newspaper and sighed.
He walked to the window and looked at the white Forbidden City, without speaking for a long time.
After standing for a full quarter of an hour, Zhu Youjian sighed: "Yang Sichang has been fighting for a year, and the situation is getting worse and worse. However, Li Zhichang captured and killed Zhang Xianzhong in less than a month."
"I didn't expect that Yang Sichang, whom I single-handedly promoted, was so unworthy that he could not compare to Li Zhi, a warlord in Tianjin."
Zhu Youjian regretted his own way of looking at people. In fact, the emperor Zhu Youjian wanted to prove his ability and vision. Every time he reused a person, he trusted him completely. There was Yuan Chonghuan before him, and Yang Sichang after him, but in the end, both
It proves that his vision is not sophisticated. The endings of these two people are hasty.
In comparison with Li Zhi's easy victory over Zhang Xianzhong, Yang Sichang's ability and moral character seemed very small. This incident shocked Zhu Youjian a little.
The only loyal minister who was reused by the emperor without any problems was Wen Tiren. But Wen Tiren had already left Hexi after serving in office for one year.
Wang Chengen thought for a while and said: "Your Majesty, the Yangge Ministry also submitted a memorial to cite Li Zhi's merits. This shows that he still has the heart to be loyal to the emperor and serve the country. I am afraid that the previous report about Li Zhi being made things difficult by the Yangge Ministry was a misunderstanding."
"It's just that his memorial said that he is seriously ill and may not have much time left..."
Zhu Youjian turned his back to Wang Chengen and said nothing.
Yang Sichang said in the memorial that he was about to die, so Zhu Youjian didn't bother to remove him from his post. Letting Yang Sichang die in his position would not be so ugly, and it would be a step down for himself.
Wang Chengen said: "Your Majesty, no matter what, the Xian thieves have been wiped out. Now only the intruders are left among the big thieves. This is a great joy. Zhang Xianzhong was able to be wiped out with Li Zhi's thunderous methods, and even more with the Holy Spirit.
The mighty power of Heaven!"
When Zhu Youjian heard Wang Chengen's words, he nodded and slowly became happy.
Wang Chengen then said: "Your Majesty, as long as Li Zhi arrives in Henan, Li Zicheng won't be able to get there for a few days!"
Zhu Youjian thought for a while and said: "Li Zhi is really the pillar of the country and must not be ignored. I will appoint Li Zhi as the crown prince and tutor, worship him as a military officer, and control all the troops in Henan."
"Pass on my decree and ask Li Zhi to rush to Henan to quell Li Zicheng. If the thieves in Henan can be quelled, we will share the credit!"
Wang Chengen was stunned for a moment, and secretly thought that the emperor's last words meant that he wanted to knight Li Zhi.
Li Zhi, a warlord, was extremely powerful in the Ming Dynasty. Wang Chengen secretly said that he would make more friends with Li Zhi in the future. If Li Zhi was granted the title of earl, his power would be even more different.
Zhu Youjian seemed to have figured it out, laughed, and said: "I am happy that Zhang Xianzhong is dead. I want to try the Lantern Festival made by the queen herself when I go to Kunning Palace!"
