Chapter 147: Clanging and powerful, breaking gold and jade

The nineteenth day of the eleventh month.

Two days until the winter solstice.

Zhu Yijun circled the West Garden, sometimes walking slowly with his hands on his waist, sometimes running with his forearms swinging.

Three or five eunuchs were panting and pretending to be out of breath, falling a few steps behind—in principle, they could outrun the Emperor, but the principle was in the Emperor's hands.

Zhu Yijun had been used to such things for decades and felt nothing.

While running, he was thinking about things.

A few days ago, after inviting Zhang Juzheng back, this guy not only didn't appreciate his kindness but, upon hearing that he was using his power in the court deliberation, colluded with Gao Yi, saying that the Ciqing Palace had been renovated, and the West Garden was remote after all; since the time had come, he should take his place in the Qianqing Palace.

This made Zhu Yijun a little embarrassed.

Yes, he had said he would hide in the West Garden for a year and go back when the Ciqing Palace was renovated.

Not only because he was angry that the Ciqing Palace was burned, but also to clean up the inner court, sending away or relocating a group of eunuchs, palace maids, and craftsmen.

Now the anger had subsided, and the palace had been cleaned up, so it should be safe.

It was time to go back.

But... Zhu Yijun had gotten used to staying in the West Garden!

Going back to the Qianqing Palace, where could he find such relaxation as running and fishing all day?

Working in the office all day and relaxing outdoors often, the mental state of the whole person could not be mentioned in the same breath.

But there was no way, who told him he said the time was short at the beginning.

So, Zhu Yijun had to reluctantly express his stance, saying that it was too cold in winter and it was not convenient to move, and he would move back when spring came.

Besides compromise, there was also the meaning of dragging it out.

He remembered that in history, the Cining Palace should have been burned in November this year—this is the Ming Dynasty palace, hot in summer and dry in winter, with fire every year.

He wanted to use this as an excuse to continue lingering in the West Garden.

But I don't know if it was because the eunuchs and palace maids had been cleaned up, but he never saw any sparks.

Besides this, things in the harem often made Zhu Yijun spend his energy recently.

Two days later is not only the winter solstice, but also the birthday of Empress Dowager Li.

Since the late Emperor had been dead for less than three years, and the inner court had to set an example for thrift, it was naturally not prepared to be extravagant.

However, one thing is one thing; not being extravagant is because the pocket is shy, but as a son, his heart must be expressed.

The fixed program of copying Buddhist scriptures is indispensable, even if he chooses scriptures with fewer words, he has been copying for several days, and there are still one or two pages left.

Of course, these are not things.

What gives Zhu Yijun the biggest headache is the two Empress Dowagers taking advantage of the topic...

Zhu Yijun thought of this, just ran two laps, and returned to the outside of the pavilion by the Taiye Pool, so he stopped his thoughts.

Outside the pavilion, Zhang Hong held a hot towel and waited here.

Zhu Yijun supported his knees, looked down at the ground, breathed in and out with concentration, recovered his strength, and waited for Zhang Hong to wipe the sweat from his forehead and back of his neck.

After the sweat on his body was wiped off, the whole person felt much more refreshed.

Zhu Yijun was thinking, and felt that the movement was much gentler, which didn't seem like Zhang Hong's technique.

Sure enough, he looked up and saw a pair of slender, white, and tender hands wiping sweat for himself.

Zhu Yijun stepped back calmly and took the hot towel from Li Baiyang's hand: "I'll do it myself."

Upon hearing this, Li Baiyang took a new hot towel and handed it to the Emperor.

Then she stood aside with her hands tied, without much language.

Zhu Yijun secretly said it was troublesome.

This is the two Palaces taking advantage of the topic!

I don't know which loyal minister who realized the holy heart submitted a memorial to the two Palaces.

It is said that the Empress Dowager's birthday is a good day, so why not take advantage of this auspicious day to order the Emperor's selection of concubines—the Emperor's selection of concubines requires a sea selection in the prefecture and county, and a knockout tournament in the capital, which is time-consuming. Now, if you order it in advance, it will take a year or a half to select, and the Emperor will be fourteen, and the wedding will be just right.

Wonderful political speculation.

Unfortunately, he didn't grasp the Emperor's context and was quietly left without being issued by the Emperor himself from the two Palaces.

But the speculation of the court officials at the wrong time can be easily suppressed, but the ideas of the two Palaces are beyond the Emperor's expectations.

The next day, this Li Baiyang, who tutored Princess Yanqing, was sent to the Emperor's side, saying it was the meaning of the two Palaces, letting her take care of the Emperor's daily life.

Even Empress Dowager Li once hinted that she had been tested—her wrists were not short, her feet were not big, her eyes, ears, mouth, nose, and whole body had no scars, and everything met the standards.

Empress Dowager Chen's statement was even more direct, saying that if Zhu Yijun was interested in picking, he just needed to pay attention to moderation.

Sinful.

Zhu Yijun looked at this girl who was three years older than him.

Her face was beautiful, her cheeks were round, white, and tender, and she hadn't grown up yet, looking extremely green.

Even if her features were exquisite, she could only be called cute because of her age.

He turned to recall the scene he saw without warning when bathing yesterday, the tall figure, and the long, full legs, covered by smoke and mist...

Zhu Yijun couldn't help but shiver.

He coughed lightly and found words randomly: "I heard that Princess Yanqing has started to learn to read?"

Li Baiyang nodded briskly, her eyes smiling: "The Princess is smart and learns very quickly."

Zhu Yijun said "um" absentmindedly: "If you have time, learn logic too."

The Princess will always get married. It doesn't matter if she doesn't learn counting, but at least learn logic, combined with the Four Books and Five Classics, and she can understand how to be a person.

After speaking, he felt better and waved his hand: "You don't need to be here, go back and take care of the Holy Mother."

Li Baiyang saluted and retreated very sensibly.

Zhu Yijun looked at the girl's back and shook his head with a complex expression.

Good-looking is good-looking, but unfortunately, he is a man married to the Great Ming Dynasty.

Getting married too early is not a good thing.

What if the first child is a son?

How can there be a crown prince for fifty years in the world?

Political life does not end at the moment of death, but at the moment when the successor is completely mature.

This is also the reason why ancient emperors often killed their fathers and sons.

Since he is still young, of course, he cannot plant hidden dangers for the big picture of the future because of a moment of impulse.

Thinking of this, Zhu Yijun inexplicably patted Zhang Hong and sighed: "Running is still good!"

Still have to run! Only by running more can he avoid being suddenly ambushed by the two Empress Dowagers when he is not paying attention!

Zhang Hong entered the palace early and didn't understand what the little Emperor was talking about at all.

He had to pretend he didn't hear the mindless words and turned to mention the main business: "Your Majesty, Zhang Gelao Wang and Minister of Rites Ma Ziqiang are asking to see you outside the Chengguang Hall and have been waiting for a long time."

Zhu Yijun frowned, why is there someone looking for him every day.

It was fine in the past, but today he still has to inspect the Inner Court Weapon Bureau.

It was something that had been said half a month in advance.

Inspection, you have to say it in advance, let people prepare—inspection is not aimed at fixing people, but to let things return to the right track with the minimum investment.

If you go without saying a word, that's supervision, aimed at recovering losses, which cannot be mentioned in the same breath.

Zhu Yijun asked: "What is it?"

If it's unimportant, then postpone it, which is reasonable.

Zhang Da's secret handling of affairs never drops the chain.

He bowed: "Minister Ma's side says it involves military affairs, and he went to the Cabinet to discuss with Zhang Gelao Wang early this morning."

"But the two couldn't unify their opinions for a while, and didn't want to go to the court deliberation for public discussion, so they came to find Your Majesty together."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yijun's brows frowned even tighter.

The two came from the same party and didn't want to go to the court deliberation to argue for outsiders to see the joke, which Zhu Yijun understood.

But you, Ma Ziqiang, a Minister of Rites, what military affairs can you involve?

Did the vassal revolt? Did the students parade? Or did something happen to the sacrifice to Heaven on the winter solstice?

Zhu Yijun couldn't think of anything for a while.

But since it involves military affairs, it is obviously unavoidable.

He pondered for a moment, had a plan, turned to Zhang Hong and ordered: "I have to trouble the attendant to go again, just say, I will inspect the Weapon Bureau later, please ask them to play to the Weapon Bureau."

Red tape cannot delay doing practical things.

Zhang Hong responded and ran quickly towards the Chengguang Hall with small steps.

After people left, Zhu Yijun changed into dry clothes, and then ordered the eunuch in charge of the Ceremonial Supervision, Wei Chao, beside him: "Let's go, go to the Weapon Bureau first."

Wei Chao hurriedly led the way in front.

The twenty-four yamen commonly known in the inner court are twelve supervisions, four divisions, and eight bureaus.

These are all territories under the full jurisdiction of the inner court, managed only by eunuchs, and the outer court is not allowed to intervene, all set within the imperial city.

For example, the Weapon Bureau, one of the four bureaus, is like this.

And besides the twenty-four yamen, there are many other yamen in the inner court.

Because it is managed by both inside and outside, for the convenience of outer court officials to enter and exit, it is set outside the imperial city and is usually not listed in the twenty-four.

For example, the Military Equipment Bureau is like this.

The Weapon and Military Equipment bureaus mentioned just now are the two major sources of gunpowder manufacturing and firearm research in the Great Ming Dynasty.

It is also one of the things Zhu Yijun has been concerned about recently.

Because the Military Equipment Bureau is outside the palace, there are many people and eyes, and it is inconvenient for the Emperor to inspect, so today he naturally came to the Weapon Bureau.

As one of the twenty-four yamen, the Weapon Bureau has okay oil and water, after all, it manages one treasury and two factories—namely the Military Equipment Treasury, the Armor Factory, and the Anmin Factory.

Among them, the Armor Factory is the original Saddle and Bridle Bureau, in charge of firearm manufacturing.

Later, because the environmental assessment was not up to standard, it was changed to cold weapon manufacturing.

And the authority of firearm manufacturing was moved to the Anmin Factory far from the middle palace, making some good things like guns, cannons, and gunpowder to govern the country and settle the people.

The Weapon Bureau is very large, and there are many people entering the factory—there were only hundreds of people before the Xiaozong period, but in the Xiaozong period, "the Shangyi Supervision collected a thousand craftsmen, and the Weapon Bureau followed suit, collecting up to two thousand people."

Entering the factory is a good thing, but it is inevitably messy when there are many people to manage.

Even if you know that you are going to check, it is difficult to tidy up for a while.

So when the Emperor walked into the Anmin Factory with a blank face, the eunuch in charge of the Weapon Bureau, Wei Zhongde, was sweating profusely: "The inner minister, the eunuch in charge of the Weapon Bureau, Wei Zhongde, has seen Your Majesty."

Zhu Yijun nodded and looked around.

The disorderly placement of copper and iron gun barrels, the ground mixed with sweat and urine, the Anmin Factory, which originally had two thousand craftsmen but only had nearly a hundred people scattered...

He shook his head secretly, no wonder it was moved to the corner of the imperial city because the environmental assessment was not qualified.

Zhu Yijun turned to look at Wei Chao and said casually: "The attendant's adopted son's name is good."

As he said, he wandered around the factory.

Wei Chao hurriedly collected his expression and bowed: "I dare not accept Your Majesty's praise. I named them according to the classics, Zhongliang, Zhongxiao, Zhongde..."

Seeing that the Emperor didn't listen at all, Wei Chao stopped halfway.

A group of people followed the Emperor, walked and stopped in the factory, and answered the Emperor's questions from time to time.

"What kind of firearms does the factory mainly produce now?" The Emperor asked while walking.

Wei Zhongde had also done his homework and answered fluently to solve the Emperor's doubts: "Back to the Emperor, since the first year of Jiajing, after capturing the Frankish cannon in the battle of Xicaowan in Guangdong, the Weapon Bureau now mostly produces Frankish guns."

"Besides the prototype, these guns have been modified by craftsmen over the years, and there are six categories."

"Large Frankish, medium Frankish, small Frankish, horse Frankish, Frankish meteor cannon, and chain Frankish."

While introducing this, the person in charge of the gunpowder division immediately took six samples for the Emperor and put them in front of the Emperor by category: "Your Majesty, you are a body of ten thousand gold, we have removed the gunpowder, please play with it with confidence."

After speaking, he smiled flatteringly.

The things were not small, and Zhu Yijun reached out and touched this so-called Frankish gun.

The metal barrel was shiny, clearly carefully selected.

The wooden trigger seemed to be for weight reduction.

The top was also equipped with aiming devices—of course, not lenses, just a centered ring with a protrusion in the middle.

The six shapes were different, but without exception, the barrels were extremely long, and I don't know if it was for heat dissipation.

Wei Zhongde introduced to the Emperor intimately: "Your Majesty, this gun adopts the structure of a mother-child gun, that is, one barrel is equipped with several child guns. One child gun can be quickly installed after shooting, and the rate of fire is amazing!"

Zhu Yijun was not interested in listening to the administrative official reading the manuscript.

He rubbed the barrel and opened his mouth without raising his head: "Call a few big craftsmen over."

Wei Zhongde was interrupted by the Emperor, smiled awkwardly, and hurriedly asked his men to call them.

Those who can be called "big" are at the peak level in all walks of life, and the people below naturally understand who to call.

Here Zhu Yijun played with the firearms and asked casually: "I remember there are also bird guns, which are also common firearms. Does the Weapon Bureau not produce them?"

Wei Zhongde smiled flatteringly: "Your Majesty, bird guns are mainly produced by the Military Equipment Bureau..."

Before he finished speaking, he heard a noise outside the door.

Zhu Yijun was studying the structure of the Frankish gun. Hearing this movement, he knew without looking up that it was Wang Chonggu and Ma Ziqiang who came.

He moved his eyes away from the firearms, straightened up, and looked outside the Anmin Factory.

Sure enough.

The two followed Zhang Hong and hurried over.

Zhu Yijun then waved his hand, signaling Wei Zhongde and a group of eunuchs from the Weapon Bureau to step aside first.

The latter sensibly stood far away.

Wang Chonggu and the two scanned the Weapon Bureau reservedly.

Knowing that the Emperor was inspecting here, they soon took back their eyes and stepped forward with small steps.

"Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty."

Zhu Yijun nodded and was polite: "It's hard for the two ministers to run over to accommodate me, which delayed the two ministers' handling of state affairs."

He was still polite here, but Ma Ziqiang began to remonstrate seriously: "Your Majesty, if you inspect each bureau, you should stand high and see far."

"Why do you personally ask about these strange skills?"

He just saw the Emperor playing with firearms.

This is too much!

Zhu Yijun coughed lightly and directly changed the subject: "I heard that the two ministers have important military affairs?"

Say the main business when you come, there are only eunuchs here, you kid stop setting up the Great Minister of Rites persona here.

Ma Ziqiang was frustrated, his face couldn't hang, and he couldn't help but look around.

Fortunately, a group of eunuchs from the Weapon Bureau stood far away and didn't look here, which made him breathe a sigh of relief.

Wang Chonggu saw this, took the conversation intimately, and talked about the main business: "Your Majesty, there are two important things, one is the Dou Barbarians in Sichuan, and the other is the Tatars in the north."

"The former is the good news of the conquest of the Dou Barbarians."

"This summer, I was ordered to send six thousand Beijing Camp troops, following the Regional Commander Liu Xiantong, the Supervisory Dao Vice Envoy Li Jiang, the former Regional Commander Guo Cheng, the Assistant Regional Commander Zhang Ze, the Garrison Commander Shen Mao, Wuxian, etc., to clear the Dou Barbarians."

"They captured Lingxiao City, took the Dou Fortress, and broke through like bamboo, and on the night of the Bingxu day in September, they captured the Barbarian King alive in Dapan Mountain, Prefecture."

"In this battle, they beheaded thousands and expanded the territory by more than four hundred miles."

After saying this, Wang Chonggu stopped.

Obviously, this matter had a disagreement with Ma Ziqiang, letting the latter explain to the Emperor.

Ma Ziqiang immediately took the words calmly: "Your Majesty, the Dou Barbarians have been rebellious for more than two hundred years, and now they are finally pacified. The plan was perfect, and the merit was achieved in one move. It is truly a great victory."

"But... I read the ancestral instructions of the Founding Emperor, and the first chapter says, the barbarians in all directions are limited by mountains and seas, and they are in a remote corner. I fear that future descendants will rely on the wealth and strength of China, covet their strong borders, and raise troops without reason, causing injury to human life. Remember, you must not."

The smell in the Weapon Bureau is not good.

As the three were talking, they walked outside the factory, and the Eastern Depot eunuchs guarded the surroundings from afar.

Zhu Yijun frowned and looked at the two.

He naturally knew what Wang Chonggu said.

The Beijing Camp was in a mess.

Ever since Wang Chonggu promised to suppress the Ministry of War for him and cooperated with the Grand Coordinator Gu Huan to govern the Beijing Camp, one of the things was to scatter the small camps of the Beijing Camp to rotate defense and experience war.

There are also those who are sent directly to fight.

It costs money, but the benefit is that the effect is fast.

Especially for the Dou Barbarians, it is most suitable for practice.

Now that there is a great victory, although it is within expectations, it is also a good thing.

But what does Ma Ziqiang mean by this?

Seeing the Emperor's expression of doubt, he obviously hadn't read the memorial.

Ma Ziqiang found that he had over-brain-supplemented the Emperor's control of the court situation, and hurriedly opened the bright words: "Your Majesty, in this great victory, there were many beheadings, but only two hundred people were captured alive."

"For the sake of the merit of beheading... I fear that the soldiers have offended the harmony of Heaven..."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yijun suddenly realized what the two were arguing about.

No wonder the Ministry of Rites ran over to talk about military affairs!

It turned out to be about killing captives!

Ma Ziqiang paused and continued: "Especially the six thousand Beijing Camp guards, if they participated in it, I fear it is not suitable to return to Beijing to guard."

After listening, Zhu Yijun already understood the cause and effect.

He couldn't help feeling a headache.

This matter is also not easy to handle.

This matter is too hazy. After all, a victory was won. Should it be rewarded or punished? Who participated in it, was it an official or a soldier? Or was there no clear evidence in the first place, and were captives killed or not?

Pushing and pulling, nothing is more troublesome.

Zhu Yijun couldn't help but look at Wang Chonggu, waiting for this Cabinet Minister's distinction—since the two came to find him together because of a disagreement, Wang Chonggu's attitude must be different from Ma Ziqiang's.

But unexpectedly, Wang Chonggu did not distinguish on this matter, but opened his mouth to talk about another matter: "Your Majesty, the latter concerns the Tatars, and they are starting to move again."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yijun's expression changed, and he immediately threw the previous matter behind his head.

He asked urgently: "Is it the Tumut Khan? Or a certain department?"

Wang Chonggu immediately told the cause and effect: "It is still the Duoyan Guard!"

"Now that the winter is passing, Dong Huli is active among the various departments of the Tumut Khan."

"It is said that he intends to send tens of thousands of troops to wash away the shame, and is now uniting all parties, inviting them to plunder in the spring."

Wang Chonggu paused and said: "I heard rumors... even went to find the Shunyi King who surrendered to our dynasty."

Zhu Yijun looked at Wang Chonggu deeply.

Shunyi King is the title of Altan Khan.

But the news that Dong Huli came to the door was not reported to the court, but Wang Chonggu knew it—otherwise he wouldn't say it was a rumor.

No wonder everyone says this is the ballast stone of Xuan Da.

Zhu Yijun diverged for a while, then collected his mind and looked at Wang Chonggu: "If the Zhang Gelao has anything to say, just say it directly."

He could naturally hear that there was unfinished meaning in Wang Chonggu's words.

Sure enough.

Wang Chonggu met the Emperor's gaze, his tone firm: "I have ten thousand words to defend the six thousand Beijing Camp children that Minister Ma mentioned."

"But, now that the opportunity is right, I only ask for a chance for them to make up for their crimes with merit."

Zhu Yijun suddenly raised his head and looked at Wang Chonggu.

Wang Chonggu suddenly lifted his hem and bowed to the ground: "Your Majesty, our dynasty has been tired of defense for a long time, so that even a small part of the Tumut Khan dares to jump up and down and provoke again and again."

"I think that now is the time to take the initiative to go out of the fortress and strike a heavy blow! Give the Tatars, Dou Barbarians, Jurchens, Oirats, and other barbarians a look at our fangs!"

"Destroy the Duoyan Guard and capture Dong Huli alive!"

"Hang the head on the gate!"

A few words, just like the blood and fire of the frontier fortress rushing to the face!

Clanging and powerful, breaking gold and jade! ===== CHAPTER 148 =====