Chapter 92: Ancient Trees in Old Homes, Yielding the Path to the Wise

The fifteenth day of the fourth month.

West Garden, beside Taiye Pool.

Zhu Zhu Yijun sat on a low stool, fishing beside Taiye Pool.

As one of the few pastimes nowadays, it was also a good way to regulate his mood.

Zhang Hong came to report matters and was handed a fishing rod while standing to the side.

"Besides the silver, Junior Tutor Xu also asked for the officials and Embroidered Uniform Guards studying mathematics to stay and teach for half a year, so that he can start expanding the source of students."

Zhu Zhu Yijun smiled with gratification.

Very energetic.

Just from this move, he knew that he was truly aiming to work and contribute.

Whether it is an academy or a salt administration office, the first thing to do when creating an office in the early days of governing is to build buildings and allocate funds, that is, to first form tangible assets.

Following closely behind is the personnel establishment problem.

Xu Jie asked for the disposal power of the silver to belong to the academy as soon as he entered the door, and tried every means to fill the temporary establishment, which shows he didn't fool around.

Zhu Zhu Yijun ordered: "Just do as Junior Tutor Xu said."

"However, every quarter, the inner treasury must send people to audit the whereabouts of the silver, and at the end of the year, call the Ministry of Revenue and the Censorate to audit together, forming a system."

The money spent in the future will definitely not be small, so we cannot leave too obvious loopholes in the early days of creation.

Zhang Hong agreed.

Zhu Zhu Yijun remembered something and asked: "Wang Wang Shizhen hasn't entered the capital yet?"

He issued an edict to revive him at the end of the year, these people are too inactive.

Zhang Hong said busily: "Your Majesty, Wang Wang Shizhen was mourning for his mother, and it only ended at the beginning of the year. He is already on the way."

Zhu Zhu Yijun was enlightened.

Immediately, he felt a bit helpless; mourning is really troublesome for ministers who need to be used.

Unfortunately, there is no good way.

Zhang Hong looked at the Emperor who was thinking with his peripheral vision, and pulled the fishing rod unobtrusively, scaring away the fish that was about to bite the hook, so as not to open the business before the Emperor.

He continued to report: "The palace examination for Hai Hai Yushi has been approved and sent to the Ministry of Rites."

"However... Zhang Zhang Siwei said that there is no precedent in the dynasty, so how to implement it still needs deliberation and consideration."

This is an ambiguous attitude, neither yes nor no.

Zhu Zhu Yijun sneered.

He understood too well what was going on; this is urging him.

Zhu Zhu Yijun said indifferently: "Has Yang Bo submitted his resignation memorial again?"

Zhang Hong had a draft early, and busily answered: "Submitted this morning, according to Your Majesty's instructions, it has been shelved."

Zhu Zhu Yijun nodded: "Encourage Yang Bo, let him rest well, and recommend a great minister to act on his behalf for the affairs in the cabinet, and return to the cabinet to handle affairs after recovery."

Who will be recommended, everyone has a tacit understanding.

Zhang Hong recorded it.

Zhu Zhu Yijun hadn't caught a fish for a long time, felt that the position was not very good, and got up to change positions.

He asked casually: "What is the indication of the nobles impeached in the court deliberation yesterday?"

Zhang Hong pulled the fishing rod and said carefully: "Zhang Yuanshan, Earl of Hui'an, and Guo Yingqian, Earl of Cheng'an, submitted a memorial to ask for leisure, and have closed their doors to guests today."

"Li Li Yingchen, Earl of Xiangcheng, and Zhao Zhao Zuzheng, Earl of Xincheng... went to seek help from the Duke of England and the Duke of Cheng."

"The two dukes ignored them, and they let the noble women enter the palace to find the two Empress Dowagers."

Zhu Zhu Yijun frowned, this is too stupid.

This is not just stupid, it's that there isn't a smart person in the mansion.

No wonder they could do the stupid thing of privately imprisoning the constable.

He said with some disgust: "Order the Earl of Hui'an and the Earl of Cheng'an to stay at home for leisure."

"As for the other two idiots, all the impeachment memorials are shelved."

Shelving without issuing, besides sheltering, also means increasing the intensity, just see how the court officials judge it themselves.

Zhang Hong recorded it again.

He said carefully: "This morning, Gu Gu Huan, Governor of the Beijing Camps, submitted an impeachment again."

"Li Cheng'en, the training assistant general, still didn't report for duty at the camp today."

"Chen Xiong, the mobile corps commander of the Divine Machine Camp, gathered people to gamble last night."

"Hou Department Magistrate, the Assistant Regional Commander of the Divine Pivot Camp, refused to obey management."

"Liu Zhi, the right Assistant Regional Commander of the Five Military Camps, fought privately."

"Yang Yang Shikai, the central military officer, led the troops to play football..."

Every time Zhang Hong said a sentence, Zhu Zhu Yijun's face became ugly by three points.

He directly interrupted: "What did the Ministry of War say?"

Zhang Hong hesitated for a moment and said carefully: "The Ministry of War rejected it, saying that the style of the Beijing Camps is like this, let Gu Gu Huan scold them."

Li Cheng'en is the son of the Grand Princess, Liu Zhi is the nephew of the Earl of Cheng Yi, and Yang Yang Shikai is a person from the mansion of the Earl of Zhangwu.

In short, these assistant commanders and deputy generals are either foreign relatives and nobles, or the Ministry of War protects them and won't let them move.

If you want to deal with them by military law, you have to ask the Emperor about the political influence.

It's really tied up.

Zhu Zhu Yijun thought for a moment, but still shook his head: "Let Su Shirun, the censor of the Jiangxi Circuit, submit an impeachment memorial."

"Tell Ge Chief Ge Shouli and Li Li Zaiting again, the impeachment of these nobles by the censor officials should be more intense, don't leave any face for my uncles, cousins, etc., blow the wind bigger first."

The censor officials of the Beijing Camps have been patrolling for years, and now it is the censor Su Shirun, who is also someone Ge Chief Ge Shouli can move.

The movement of military law is too big, Gu Gu Huan can't hold it.

It's better to submit an impeachment memorial, follow this momentum, and deal with it together.

That is, it still has to pass the level of the Ministry of War.

He turned his head and asked: "Who is eyeing the position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of War and Assistant in Charge of Beijing Camp Military Affairs?"

Anyone with a discerning eye can see that Zhao Zhao Kongzhao's retirement is a certainty.

Those who hope for this position should have started to move.

Zhang Hong recalled, and said with speculation: "Your Majesty, the Ministry of War seems to intend to let Shi Shi Mao Hua assist in the affairs of the Beijing Camps."

Zhu Zhu Yijun frowned when he heard this.

Previously, the Minister of War was vacant, and Shi Shi Mao Hua had been in charge of the Ministry of War. Whether it was seniority or prestige, he had made great progress.

If he were to assist in the Beijing Camps, he would probably circle the land and be autonomous again, and it would be difficult for the wind and rain to enter.

Zhu Zhu Yijun asked: "Anything else?"

Zhang Hong said like a family treasure: "There are also the Senior Zhang Gelao and Zhang Gelao Lu, who intend for Wang Wang Xilie to take this position."

"Zhang Gelao Gao has transferred the text of Wang Daokun, the Vice Minister of Vision."

Zhu Zhu Yijun pondered after hearing this.

After a while, he said: "Let Xu Jie and Yang Bo also recommend people."

Zhang Hong bowed.

Seeing that the Emperor didn't speak again, he sensibly put down the fishing rod and turned to do things.

It rained lightly in the afternoon, and the streets of the capital were exceptionally fresh and cool, with the fresh smell of soil, making people feel refreshed.

However, there were exceptions.

This hall of the Court of State Ceremonial, because it was used to receive the four barbarians, was ruined by the uncivilized barbarians, and after years and months, the smell was not very good.

It was like this outside, and naturally worse inside.

Tu Tu Xiying, the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, covered his nose and mouth with his sleeves, the disgust in his eyes flashed away, and he looked down at the several envoys of the Uriankhai Guard.

The eunuch Wei Chao on the side smiled and said: "Everyone, accept the reward."

The officials of the Four Barbarian Hall translated it into Mongolian in a thoughtful way.

One of the envoys said dully: "I can understand, don't translate it for me."

After speaking, he turned around and talked to the other envoys in Mongolian.

Having experienced the former Yuan and the Great Ming for two hundred years of fighting and harmony, there are naturally many people who can speak two languages.

After translating the truth, the head envoy understood the meaning of the Great Ming Dynasty.

Bulinbatu Aodeng frowned: "We don't want silver, we want cloth, we want grain, we want fine salt!"

"And, it's too little!"

This person is tall and burly, with a fierce spirit, and when he speaks, the eunuchs and officials in front of him can't help but cover their noses.

No need for the translator to translate, Tu Tu Xiying, Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, shook his head: "It's too troublesome to transport grain and tea, it's not easy to transport."

"Instead, silver is convenient, and it can also be exchanged for grain, tea, anything can be exchanged."

He didn't even mention whether it was too little or not; it wasn't that they lost the battle, just a little bit of meaning was enough, and he still complained that it was too little.

Aodeng finished listening to the translation of his companion and said deeply: "There is no place for us to buy even if you give it to us!"

The Great Ming Dynasty only opened mutual markets with the Altan Khan. Because the Tatar Khan had been fighting for years, he did not have this treatment.

Tu Tu Xiying smiled: "You can go to the Prince Shunyi King."

Prince Shunyi King is the title of the Altan Khan, and also the only Altan Khan leader who has opened mutual markets.

Tu Tu Xiying paused, his expression subtle: "Or, let your leader, Commander Chang'ang, come forward and talk to our dynasty about the mutual market,"

The voice was not high, but everyone present heard it.

Wang Wang Chonggu, the Minister of War, who was listening in the next room, also heard it.

The Mongolians sent people to ask for rewards. Wang Wang Chonggu, as the Minister of War and the person who offered advice, was naturally very interested in listening to it, and also to touch the bottom.

He even brought his nephew who was about to enter the cabinet.

Zhang Zhang Siwei whispered: "Uncle, is this really useful? Chang'ang's father died in the hands of our dynasty, the hatred of killing his father, the depth of the sea of blood..."

Wang Wang Chonggu glared at Zhang Zhang Siwei.

He stood up without saying a word and walked out of the room.

Zhang Zhang Siwei saw that his uncle was not listening, so he followed.

"We're not listening anymore?"

Wang Wang Chonggu looked at his nephew who was a bit carried away recently, and said coldly: "If I let you listen, you should follow the rules."

"The other side is still discussing matters, you speak casually like this..."

"Is it too carried away!"

He had been at the border for many years and hadn't seen this nephew for many years. He didn't expect that he had already started to forget himself in front of him.

Zhang Zhang Siwei was scolded, his heart jumped.

He hurriedly admitted his mistake and pleaded guilty: "Uncle scolded me, I was wrong."

Zhang Zhang Siwei could be successful in his official career, what capital he relied on, he didn't forget.

Now, although he was about to enter the cabinet, he didn't dare to be disrespectful to his uncle.

Wang Wang Chonggu snorted coldly and walked out of the Court of State Ceremonial with big strides.

Zhang Zhang Siwei was an official who sat in the office, his body was weak, so he had to follow with small steps.

"Nephew was wrong, uncle don't be angry, it's not worth it to be angry."

Seeing that Zhang Zhang Siwei was panting and his attitude was still sincere, Wang Wang Chonggu let him go.

He taught him: "Don't be carried away and unable to control yourself just because you are about to enter the cabinet."

"The trouble of the Tatars is a major event of the dynasty, and every move is related to the safety of the world, so you can't be frivolous."

"If you really ruin the situation, the Emperor will be kidnapped, let alone a mere cabinet assistant!"

Although Wang Wang Chonggu is greedy for money and forms cliques, he has always been very upright about border affairs.

Precisely because of this, he could be valued by Gao Gong and Zhang Zhang Juzheng.

Zhang Zhang Siwei expressed his position again: "Nephew's qualifications are shallow, and I need uncle's earnest teaching. Today uncle said it, nephew knows it, and will definitely remember it in my heart."

Wang Wang Chonggu let him go.

The two of them scolded and admitted their mistakes, and walked out of the Court of State Ceremonial and got into the sedan chair.

Riding in the same sedan chair, Wang Wang Chonggu began to explain Zhang Zhang Siwei's question just now: "Do you think that the hatred of killing your father is in front, even if Chang'ang gets power, he will not resolve the grievances with our dynasty?"

Zhang Zhang Siwei nodded.

Wang Wang Chonggu shook his head helplessly: "You should also care more about border affairs when you have time. Even the Emperor who summoned me yesterday seems to know more about the Tatars than you."

He paused and explained: "The Tatars are not like the Central Plains, and the Khan does not have the same words as our dynasty's Emperor. The leaders of the tribes are even more scattered."

"The Tatars invading the border and looting is not the struggle between the Yuan and Ming orthodoxy in the mouths of those Confucian scholars, nor is it to avenge the sea of blood you mentioned."

"Looking for the root, it is still for survival! For food, cloth, salt!"

"The barbarians are a trouble for China, but they are just seeking food and clothing. This is also the reason why our dynasty often rewards them."

"As long as food and clothing are used as conditions, even if Chang'ang wants to continue to harass, he may not be able to move the nobles in the tribe."

Of course, it is just a slight appeasement, and the mutual market is definitely not to be thought of, that is, drawing a big cake for Chang'ang.

Zhang Zhang Siwei was lost in thought.

But he had no interest in this and didn't want to ask any more.

The two turned to talk about family affairs.

From the son Wang Wang Chonggu granted to the Imperial Academy, to the division of the Shanxi merchants this year, etc.

Before long, the carriage shook and arrived at Yang Bo's mansion.

The two got off the carriage and were led into the mansion by the servants.

Yang Bo's mansion is naturally indescribably magnificent.

But at this time, many decorations and utensils were put away, and it looked like he was ready to return to his hometown.

Yang Bo was in the courtyard, wearing coarse cloth and linen, moving flower pots.

He was full of energy and couldn't see any illness at all.

Seeing Wang Wang Chonggu and Zhang Zhang Siwei walk in, Yang Bo took the towel handed by the servant and apologized while wiping sweat: "I was careless and forgot the time."

"Wait for me to change my clothes."

Wang Wang Chonggu returned the courtesy politely and signaled him to please.

Yang Bo bowed and apologized, and returned to the inner hall.

Wang Wang Chonggu and Zhang Zhang Siwei were led to the study.

The servants made tea, and after waiting for a while, Yang Bo walked out in casual clothes.

"Xuefu is a pillar of state, and after entering the capital, he was driven by all parties. I haven't washed away the dust for Xuefu yet. Tonight, let's make do in my mansion."

Xuefu is Wang Wang Chonggu's courtesy name.

Yang and Wang are both from Puzhou, Shanxi, probably from the same county, and they have reached the central government together, so the friendship is naturally self-evident.

Wang Wang Chonggu stood up and saw the courtesy, and said with a bitter smile: "I haven't apologized to Zhang Gelao Yang for the matter of the gold book and edict."

The gold book and edict is the iron certificate of exemption from death.

Engraved with "Still swear with you, except for plotting rebellion, the rest if you commit a capital crime, exempt you from death once, to reward your merit" and other words.

It is a proper gold medal of exemption from death—Gao Gong has two.

Originally, Wang Wang Chonggu was not granted it, and it was useless to hold it.

But after Yang Bo entered the cabinet, he secretly got one for Wang Wang Chonggu to play with.

As a result, the incident was exposed in February and he was impeached by the censor officials, causing Yang Bo a lot of trouble.

Yang Bo took it lightly, anyway, he was about to retire, and he was happy to send favors to his fellow countrymen before leaving.

The three sat down separately.

Only then did they talk about business.

Yang Bo asked with concern: "How is Three Xuan-Da?"

Wang Wang Chonggu does things without leaking, and has arranged so much, it shouldn't be a mistake, but Yang Bo doesn't ask clearly, and he is always a little worried.

The former settled and nodded, confidently: "It should be fine. Within three years, the Altan Khan only recognizes my people."

"If there is a problem, the Third San San Niangzi will help me."

The Third San San Niangzi is the wife of the Altan Khan. After marrying the Altan Khan at the age of nine, because of her wisdom and bravery, her prestige in the tribe grew day by day.

Even after receiving the reward from the Great Ming Dynasty, her power directly approached the Altan Khan, and she was one of the two most powerful figures in the tribe.

At the beginning, the Altan tribute was promoted by the Third San San Niangzi and Wang Wang Chonggu, which can be called the most solid interest alliance.

Yang Bo was still a little worried and hesitated: "The Emperor let Tan Lun go to Three Xuan-Da, this person is not a fuel-efficient lamp."

Wang Wang Chonggu thought about it and shook his head: "The situation in Three Xuan-Da is complex. Even if I have something to rely on, I don't dare to have big moves. Whoever goes is the same."

"Moreover, the Emperor may not be as insidious and vicious as you speculate."

Yang Bo's expression moved: "After the court meeting yesterday, you responded alone, what did the Emperor say to Xuefu?"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 93 =====

Wang Wang Chonggu thought for a moment, then shook his head: "The situation in Three Xuan-Da is complex. Even with my backing, I wouldn't dare make any major moves; it would be the same for anyone who goes."

"What's more, His Majesty may not be as sinister and ruthless as you speculate."

Yang Bo's expression shifted: "After yesterday's court session, you had a private audience. What did the Emperor say to Xuefu?"

(End of chapter)