Why didn’t win?

Author: Potato Sweet Potato Pie

Why didn’t win?

Deciding to become a citizen of the capital, Xia Yuan thought about it silently. He had enough money no matter how he spent it, but he had to entrust someone with the matter of buying a house.

This person is Zhu Houzhao.

Although this guy is indeed a bit unworthy of a human being, unfortunately, his identity is indeed a prince, and history will also determine that he will definitely take charge of the imperial power in the future and become the prince who will make future generations have different opinions and talk about it.

The righteous emperor of Tao.

Since he is the prince, he must be able to control many people. It is very simple to ask him to send people to find a cost-effective courtyard in the capital.

The peeled beans were used to stir-fry a plate of beans and vegetables, and together with the rolled noodles, it was a simple lunch.

While eating lunch, Xia Yuan told this matter. Zhu Houzhao was holding a bowl of noodles and was stunned for a moment, and then asked: "Master wants to move to the capital?"

"Yes, I do have this plan. I saw that you have a lot of followers, so I wanted to ask for your help to find out where there are courtyards for sale in the capital. Find one with similar conditions, a cheap price, and a good orientation."

Xia Yuan was quite greedy, and he talked a lot, but Zhu Houzhao didn't listen carefully, or there was no need to listen. This kind of thing was just a trivial matter to him, so he immediately said happily: "Master, don't worry, I will definitely help you in Beijing."

Find a good house."

Xia Yuan knew that he was looking for the right one, so he kindly took a bean and put it into Zhu Houzhao's bowl, "Good disciple, come here, eat more."

On the other side of the Forbidden City, it was already noon, but Emperor Hongzhi Zhu Youtang had not yet had lunch. Instead, he called several ministers to the Nuan Pavilion of Qianqing Palace to discuss matters.

In the Ming Dynasty, or in most dynasties, real military and state affairs were often not discussed in court meetings. Instead, like now, the emperor called several important ministers to the palace and held a small meeting in private.

.

After it is approved, the matter will be brought to the court meeting for formality, and then it will be handed down directly.

The matter to be discussed today is naturally about the Tatar invasion of the border, and the so-called rewards for successful reports by Baoguo Gong.

Ever since he learned the news yesterday that his prince had been deceived, Zhu Youtang has been in a good mood, and now he speaks with an inexplicable briskness, "Yesterday Baoguo Gong played a victory, saying that he led all the soldiers to a great defeat in Guanzhong

In Tatar, there are more than 10,000 soldiers who have made meritorious service in destroying the nest, and there are more than 200 people who have made outstanding achievements. I meant to reward them according to the regulations of the imperial court, but why did the Ministry of War reject them?"

As he said that, he looked at an old man among the people and said, "Ma Qing's family, can you tell me the reason?"

"Your Majesty, it is not that the Ministry of War wants to reject the holy will, but that the reward is indeed wrong." Ma Wensheng, who serves as the Minister of War, did not hesitate and stood up from the Jindun immediately speaking fluent Henan dialect.

He is seventy-five years old this year, which is definitely considered a long life in ancient times when people rarely lived for more than seventy years. However, he still looks energetic and looks like he still has a few years to live.

It's just that most of my life has been ups and downs in officialdom, but I can't change my local accent. For decades, my speech has always been this way.

Fortunately, Zhu Youtang has long been accustomed to this, and there is no obstacle to understanding. He just nodded slightly and asked, "Why didn't you win?"

"Your Majesty, please do not ask your disciples to speak."

Zhu Youtang smiled and said, "Okay, I don't want to learn from you. The Ma Qing family will tell you why."

"Yes, this matter is also what the veteran wants to report. According to the Ministry of War, when the Tatars plundered Qingyang and Pingliang, the two garrison generals not only failed to stop them, but Gu Dui'er did not dare to fight in the city, and Zhu

Hui was also a believer. He was timid and did not lead his army to support in time, so the Tatars went straight into Guanzhong."

Speaking of this, Ma Wensheng solemnly said: "Your Majesty, I want to impeach Duke Zhu Hui, the protector of the country!"

Although the Henan dialect was a bit playful, when it came out of the mouth of this veteran minister, it echoed in the hall with a strong voice and a sense of determination.

At this time, cabinet minister Liu Jian also stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I also want to impeach Zhu Hui, the protector of the country!"

"Being afraid of the enemy and cowardly fighting, sitting back and watching the border towns rot, causing the Tatars to penetrate deep into the Guanzhong, this is the first crime!

When the army rushed in, they only killed 12 enemy soldiers, but they dared to lie about a victory. This is the second crime!

When the army makes a roundabout route, military discipline is not in good order, disturbing the people and damaging property. This is the third crime!

I hope Your Majesty will clearly understand these three charges."

Ma Wensheng also said at the right time: "These three counts are all true. I hope your Majesty will learn from them."

After hearing this, Zhu Youtang couldn't help but frown. He really didn't know these things clearly, and he really didn't know that there was such a hidden secret in this good news.

Although he is the emperor, he does not know everything. There are even many things that he is often the last to know.

The profession of the emperor was too noble, and his position was too high. He was as high as a god, so high that he was completely separated from society, and he lived in the palace for a long time. Therefore, the only sources of information for the emperor were the ministers in the court and the eunuchs beside him.

As long as the ministers and eunuchs kept silent, the emperor was no better than a deaf and blind man.

This is what is called deceiving the saints.

Zhu Youtang lives in a deep palace, and it’s not that he prefers to believe things. It’s just that people tend to believe in good news. This is human nature.

So he believed the good news.

Faced with the current bad news, he didn't want to believe it, but he had to believe it because these words came from a cabinet minister and a minister.

Unless these two veterans team up to deceive him, this possibility is extremely slim, especially since he has always trusted the character of the two ministers, especially Ma Wensheng, whom he has always respected.

After pondering for a long time, Zhu Youtang asked anxiously: "The victory report said that thousands of people who were kidnapped by the Tatars were recovered. Is this true?"

"This is indeed true."

After hearing this, Zhu Youtang breathed a sigh of relief. At least he had recovered those thousands of people. If he had not recovered them, he would have punished Zhu Hui no matter what.

It's just that he's a little bit confused about how to deal with it now.

After thinking for a long time, he sighed and said: "Zhu Hui doesn't care about it for now, but those soldiers who should be rewarded are still rewarded."

"His Majesty."

"Ma Qing's family, please listen to what I have to say." Zhu Youtang waved his hand and continued: "Although the gains in this battle were very small, those soldiers did indeed drive the Tatars out of the border. Zhu Hui was afraid

If they can't fight, what's wrong with these soldiers? Is it possible that they can still disobey military orders?

In my opinion, those more than 10,000 people are too many, and it is difficult to apportion this small contribution, so I will only reward the more than 200 soldiers who have made outstanding contributions."

Seeing Emperor Hongzhi's achievements, Liu Jian couldn't help but bow deeply and said sternly: "Your Majesty has made a clear decision that this battle is not a victory, so how can you get the credit?"

"There is still merit. Resisting the Tatars and rescuing thousands of people is merit."

Seeing this, Liu Jian could only sigh secretly, Your Majesty is good at everything, but his temper is too lenient. Then he asked for orders: "But Duke Zhu Hui, the protector of the country, I sincerely ask your Majesty to punish him, otherwise there will be no way."

Demonstrate the rewards and punishments of the country and the dynasty."

"Zhu Hui."

Zhu Youtang hesitated again. Zhu Hui, the protector of the country, was his most trusted general during the Hongzhi period.

Over the years, he has made many military exploits, both large and small. He has always attached great importance to emotions. If he really couldn't bear to punish him, it would inevitably hurt the hero's heart. What's more, even though he had his faults in this battle, he still had merit.

After pondering for a while, he waved his hand and said: "That's all, let's balance the merits and demerits. No reward will be given, and no guilt will be judged."

"His Majesty."

"Please don't try to persuade me, just do what I want."

Having said that, Zhu Youtang did not wait for anyone to respond, but changed the subject, "As you know, my prince has begun to study in recent days, and yesterday he was copying the Analects of Confucius into a political chapter."

Speaking of this matter, Zhu Youtang unconsciously showed a cheerful expression, and his face seemed to light up. At this time, he was no different from the parents of later generations. His child had done something glorious and he couldn't wait to take it.

Come out and show off to the neighbors.

Several ministers in the palace were startled when they heard this. They couldn't help but look at each other, and then they seemed to have a tacit understanding and congratulated together: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is already very smart and well-qualified, but he is only so young.

I only had a little bit of fun, and now I am willing to study hard. This is really a blessing for our Ming Dynasty. I congratulate Your Majesty."

"There's no need to congratulate you, it's just a prodigal son turning back, haha."

Zhu Youtang waved his hands very reservedly, but in the end he couldn't hold back his laughter.

Smart and well-qualified, well, I like to hear this.

And they all told the truth, my prince is exactly such a person.

At this time, Xiao Jing bowed and walked in from outside the palace, "Your Majesty, it's past afternoon. Do you think it's time for lunch?"

After hearing this, Zhu Youtang realized that he was a little hungry, so he nodded and said, "Pass the meal on."

"Please don't leave, gentlemen. It just so happens that you can stay and have lunch with me."

Emperor Hongzhi had always been diligent and frugal, so this lunch was relatively simple, with only four dishes and one soup. He sat in front of the desk and ate while listening to Xiao Jing's report in a low voice.

"The Master Xia whom the prince worshiped is actually the Jie Yuan who will take the Shuntian Mansion Provincial Examination this time?"

"Your Majesty, it's true."

"Well"

Zhu Youtang recalled that when he saw the provincial examination directory, the first name seemed to be someone with the surname Xia, but he didn't pay attention to it at the time. In the eyes of others, a Jie Yuan was Duke Jie Yuan, but for him, as an emperor,

, but nothing.

"Your Majesty, look, this is the article he wrote for the Provincial Examination, oh, and this." As he said that, Xiao Jing took out three things from his sleeves and placed them respectfully on Zhu Youtang's desk.

Zhu Youtang was about to read that article, but his eyes were attracted by two other things. To be precise, they were two books, divided into two parts.

"The Legend of the Condor Heroes?"

After murmuring the title of the book, he turned around and asked, "What is this?"

"The storybook was written by Mr. Xie Yuangong named Xia Yuan. The storybook that His Highness the Prince read a few days ago is also the same."

Zhu Youtang was suddenly enlightened. He stared at the two story books for a few times, and suddenly smiled and said: "I think the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms and the Five Secrets of the Central Plains came from this book."
Chapter completed!