Zhu Tingfang regretted why he went straight back to his hometown as soon as he came back. You know, he just wanted to see who the country boy Zhang Shou was, who made his sister Zhu Ying, who was above her head, fall in love at first sight. He could not only get his grandmother
Together with her stepmother's favor, even the emperor trusted her and put her in his best interest, which made those dandies who only had fun feel in awe.
If he hadn't returned home, his sister Zhu Ying wouldn't have found out about his flaws, his stepmother wouldn't have noticed that he was injured at a glance, and he wouldn't have been stripped off by his stepmother under her stern but concerned eyes.
He was almost ordered to confess the truth.
And if he had not returned to the palace, he would not have had to accept the fact that Zhu Ying and Zhang Shou entered the palace together because of Zhang Shou's words to save him.
As the future heir to Duke Zhao's palace, he often visits the palace, but at this moment, he stopped at Donghua Gate to report his intention, and without waiting for a reply from the palace, he walked straight in. He knew very well that Zhu Ying was involved.
Guang. Although the emperor was his cousin by blood, he was actually a monarch and a minister. He had never been able to be as casual and casual in front of the emperor as Zhu Ying was.
Not long after walking in from Donghua Gate, you have to pass by the area where the cabinet is located. Although all the government offices have been sealed now, there are only one cabinet elder and two lieutenants on duty in the cabinet on a daily basis, and there are no more people coming and going in the past.
The place was bustling with people, but the three of them accidentally bumped into an important official coming out of the cabinet.
That was Mr. Wu Ge, who was always known as a good gentleman.
When he saw the three people, Mr. Wu Ge was startled for a moment, and then he shouted with a smile: "Is Mr. Zhu back here? Good people have their own destiny. It's not in vain that the Queen Mother invited an ever-burning lantern for you in the Buddhist hall.
I have personally copied several volumes of scriptures for you, and the emperor has been talking about them day after day."
This was the first time that Zhu Tingfang heard that the Queen Mother and the Emperor were so concerned about his own safety. At this time, he planned to say a few words of gratitude from the bottom of his heart. But what he didn't expect was that Mr. Wu Ge smiled and nodded at him.
He actually looked at Zhang Shou again and said: "Dr. Zhang, those students of yours are really amazing. Yesterday, there were actually some people discussing their homework together? They worked so hard that many people were ashamed!"
Hearing someone say again that Zhang Shou's students are diligent, and this person is still a dignified cabinet bachelor, Zhu Tingfang was doubtful before, but now he began to believe it. But he still couldn't help but ask: "Are those students from Jiuzhangtang studying arithmetic?"
Are you from a poor family?"
"Haha, it's a matter of course for those poor people to work hard, I don't even need to say it. It's because many of those guys who work hard are famous dandies in the capital in the past who have achieved nothing, so I can't help but sigh. Of course,
Not everyone is like this, but even if there are only a dozen or twenty diligent people in Banshan Hall, it is already very rare."
Seeing Mr. Wu Ge looking at himself with a smile as he spoke, Zhang Shou glanced at Zhu Ying next to him. Seeing that the eldest lady's face was full of pride, he couldn't help but think to himself, it's not unusual for good students to work hard, but for poor students to work hard.
Of course you have to put a bait hanging in front.
When he was assigning homework, he would stop talking and encourage everyone to huddle together and brainstorm. The group of people who completed the homework would get the opportunity to practice - this experience was available to those who had stayed in Cuiyun Room.
He gave a very clear hint, that is, Zhao Guogong's government and him jointly funded a tailor-made talent development plan for the entire group.
Including but not limited to Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu, who clearly only opened a small weaving and dyeing workshop, but were directly questioned by the emperor... Of course, it also included marriages. I don’t know how Zhu Ying persuaded Mrs. Tai, Mrs. Tai Madam actually agreed and acted as matchmaker for those prodigal men.
Of course, as for the capital contribution from the Duke of Zhao, it is actually more accurate to say that it was the result of Zhu Ying's direct advance payment to two dowry shops.
However, Zhu Tingfang didn't know the mystery. When he went to see Zhang Shou, he found that he and Zhu Ying's eyes were facing each other, and their eyebrows seemed to be filled with affection. His mood suddenly became more subtle. So he also forgot to follow what Mr. Wu Ge just said. The head chanted the sage, and he hurriedly said a few perfunctory words and wanted to leave. Who knew that Mr. Wu Ge actually took the initiative to come forward.
"Just in time, I also have something to ask the emperor for, so let's go with you to clean up the sect!"
Similar to the chatty Wu Zhongshu, Mr. Wu Ge is also a very talkative person. At least with such a person by his side, there is no need to worry about being left alone, because he alone can connect everyone with various topics.
Zhu Ying was naturally fond of joking, and Zhang Shou also spoke freely, so Zhu Tingfang, who was not good at words...or rather did not like to talk much, but preferred to do more, unknowingly passively participated in various topics. When he arrived at Qianqingmen without realizing it, he realized that his initial picky attitude towards Zhang Shou had faded a lot.
If you think about it carefully, a young man who grew up in the countryside can talk and laugh happily even if he is facing Mr. Wu Ge, who has the best temper among the elders. At least he no longer has to worry about the other person's background that is really inconsistent with Zhu Ying. However, if you want him to admit that a noble son comes from a poor family, it is still not enough.
In the past, when Zhu Ying came over, it was usually the sharp-eyed palace servants or chamberlains who saw it and ran in to report it. No one stopped them at all, but today there were Wu Pavilion elders Zhu Tingfang and Zhang Shou, so Zhu Ying accompanied her politely. We waited together at Qianqing Gate, and after a while Liu Feng, the steward of Qianqing Palace, came out like a gust of wind.
This top chamberlain in the palace now no longer dares to speculate. He also smiled brightly at Zhang Shouna and politely invited everyone into the Qianqing Palace - even though according to the rules, these people with different intentions The audience should be in groups. Sure enough, as soon as he entered the Qianqing Palace, he heard the emperor's voice.
"You're all here, you're not an outsider, let's come in together!"
If it were the tough-minded chief minister Jiangge Lao, or the second assistant Confucius, who had a hidden agenda, he would have clearly stated his position on the inappropriateness of these remarks, but Mr. Wu Ge once again showed his good-natured personality. He said with a smile: "I don't have anything important to do, but Mr. Zhu, you are a general who has just returned to Beijing. You can talk first later, and I am also waiting to hear about the previous battle situation."
Zhu Ying also rushed to say: "When my eldest brother returned to Beijing, he should have put business first and then private life, but he was thinking about me and the elders in the family, so he went home first. He was so busy all the way home that he didn't even have time to take a sip of water when he got home, so Grandma and mother were worried, so Ah Shou and I came with him. Brother, please don't make light remarks in front of the emperor. I will tell grandma exactly what you said!"
Before Zhu Tingfang could say anything, he was pushed in front by everyone, and he could only smile bitterly to himself. According to his original intention, he did not want to exaggerate the previous thrills and hardships, but after entering Dongnuan Pavilion, he had just bowed and just listened. There was a bang at first, but it was the emperor who slapped the armrest hard.
"Well, Zhu Tingfang, you are finally back in good health! Stop being polite and tell me what happened in that battle where you were said to be a huge defeat and even the people were missing!"
Knowing that the emperor had such a temper, Zhu Tingfang could only calm down and said: "Your Majesty, this is my first time to go on an expedition. I have no experience at all. Even if it was a partial army, it was not my turn to lead it. But at that time, because all the sentinels were wiped out, even
The herdsmen who were close to the border wall also turned against our troops and robbed and killed our troops. There were even unscrupulous businessmen who smuggled prohibited items outside the wall to the north, and the army was in chaos..."
He paused and saw Zhu Ying staring at him with some doubts on her face, while Zhang Shou showed a thoughtful expression. The smile on Mr. Wu Ge's face, which was always smiling, disappeared.
He knew that although his sister hadn't reacted yet, Zhang Shou and Mr. Wu Ge had clearly guessed something. As for the emperor... he had never seen through that face with a faint smile.
Taking a gentle breath, he said in a deep voice: "My father convened the generals under his command to discuss matters. He found that there were many mountains and no intention to fight, so he secretly gave me a task. He asked me to pretend that I couldn't stand the excitement and issue a military order, and then
Leading troops to go to war, in fact... in fact, they are used as bait."
Zhu Ying suddenly felt cold all over and turned pale. She thought she would shout angrily, how could her father be so cruel and heartless, but the words were stuck in her throat and she could not speak until she felt someone gently holding her hand.
When I looked up and saw that it was Zhang Shou, I felt that my body was gradually getting warmer.
Mr. Wu Ge did not say anything about Duke Zhao's boldness, but remained completely silent. The emperor couldn't help but tap the armrest with his fingers, and after a long while he sighed and said: "Your father hasn't done this for many years."
In addition, although the former Datong General Soldier was dismissed from his post, his old generals are very complicated, so it’s no wonder that he actually set his sights on his own son!"
The emperor stood up suddenly as he said this, and then walked directly to Zhu Tingfang: "It is true that kindness does not control soldiers, but your father does not want to think about it. A son like you who has achieved great things will wait for your second brother to sharpen it.
But it’s still too early! What will he do if you have a problem? What will Duke Zhao do? Has he ever thought about how sad your grandmother will be? "
Zhu Tingfang lowered his head slightly, and then said in a deep voice: "My father said that it is not only his son who takes risks, but also other people's fathers, sons, elder brothers, younger brothers... Since he is risking other people's lives, go
You can't just let your son stay in a safe place. Apart from me, the other generals he brought have their own roles, and they can't be overqualified."
After another pause, his voice became a little lower: "He also said that he believed that with me leading the troops, we would at least be able to guarantee defeat without collapse, and allow more people to survive. After all, this time it is not about luring the enemy.
Go deep.”
Zhu Ying was already extremely distressed by what she heard, and now she couldn't help but grab Zhang Shou's arm, for fear of hearing the more tragic details next. Zhang Shou patted Zhu Ying's hand gently,
Then he raised his head and looked at Zhu Tingfang.
"Master Zhu, Duke Zhao's move can indeed be called selfless, but after all, it is you who takes the risk, not him. This is not even as touching as him taking the lead. Moreover, hasn't he thought about it, even if he takes the risk?
The soldiers who were asked to lead the troops and were thrown out as bait may not be willing to accept it after knowing it?" In fact, he was asking this for Miss Zhu...
Zhu Tingfang didn't expect that Zhang Shou would dare to criticize his father like this, but when he saw Zhu Ying showing an expression of extreme approval, his mood became even more complicated, and he said calmly: "The emperor also said that you can't be kind without mercy."
In charge of the army, there are only superiors and subordinates in the military camp, not father and son. Moreover, except for me, no one under my command knows that he is a bait."
"After my partial division, my father sent two warriors from Datong to outflank him with two troops. The result was as expected. They stood still and watched me ambush. However, they did not expect that my father would be in charge of Datong.
It was just an illusion. After I was ambushed, while the enemy troops were retreating, he arrived with a group of elite soldiers and horses, and ate up the Northern troops."
"Afterwards, my father used the power of a small victory to capture the two generals who were sitting idle and helpless. My messenger among the defeated soldiers who went to ask for help but was almost silenced became the best witness. You know,
I am leading the soldiers and horses of the Datong Central Guard, and the soldiers and horses under my command are in the same spirit as those of the two men. The general sat back and watched the friendly troops call for help but refused to save them, and even tried to kill people to silence them. Of course the army was in an uproar."
"In order to eliminate the scum in the army first, my father sealed off many military camps in and around Datong City, and waited for the news of the defeat to be transmitted back to the capital. He killed the two generals first and then reported them, and promoted many low-level generals... Thanks to the Emperor Shengming,
I did not urge my father to fight quickly, nor did I send anyone to supervise the battle as the court clamored, which was the reason for the subsequent victory."
Although Zhu Tingfang's tone was calm, everyone present could hear the murderous intent and danger contained in his understatement. Especially since most of his perspectives were focused on Zhao Guogong Zhu Jing, but he did not talk about his own life at all.
Fuhe was defeated in the battle, not to mention how he escaped and created another miracle, which naturally attracted greater dissatisfaction from others.
The most dissatisfied among them was none other than Zhu Ying. "Brother, have you had enough?" Zhu Tingfang was interrupted by an angry shout, and the eldest lady yelled emphatically, "Whether it's the emperor or us, what are you going to do?"
Not only did I hear dad’s story, but also your own story! Where did you go after you lost the battle and disappeared? How did you happen to raid the place where Beilu made firearms? "
Seeing that Zhu Tingfang was speechless, Mr. Wu Ge couldn't help but ask: "Yes, Master Zhu avoids talking about his achievements. This is not the time to be humble. What the emperor wants is the truth."
Zhu Tingfang glanced at the silent emperor, then at Zhang Shou who was thoughtful, and then said with a wry smile: "Reporting to the emperor, Mr. Wu Ge was wrong. I am not being humble, but I have no face to face the emperor and the elders in the capital.
At that time, I fought hard and was exhausted, and finally fell off my horse. I originally planned to commit suicide to apologize, but because I saw many of my subordinates being taken away as prisoners by the Northern Captives, I became angry and..."
He hesitated and did not continue, but Zhang Shou suddenly said: "But the eldest son thought of your father's words, you can make more people survive, so he took off his armor and shirt, put on a slight disguise, and took the initiative to sneak in.
Among prisoners of war?”
As soon as these words came out, not to mention Zhu Ying's sudden change of expression, even Wu Ge Lao was not much better. Since ancient times, being defeated and captured has been a stain on an army general. What's more, Zhu Tingfang was once captured by the Northern Captives!
Even if they don't think that Zhu Tingfang was captured due to exhaustion and lost his integrity, as long as it is spread out, outsiders will definitely not think so! Those who have criticized Zhao Guogong and his son will only publicize this as if they have obtained a treasure!
Zhu Tingfang stared at Zhang Shou with some surprise. Seeing that his face was calm and there was no trace of contempt or contempt in his eyes. He even showed a little respect in his eyes. He couldn't help but feel more complicated. After a long time, he nodded and said: "Yes, I heard that Beilu
I often look for people who are familiar with firearms among the captured soldiers and civilians, so I cut my face and sneak in."
"Death is the only way through the ages... This is true, but I don't want to die as a bait without any effect!"