Gou was a member of the imperial family in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 594: Sun Chuanting is sent out

Wang Rong thought of this when Gao Jie and Xing Qiao'er worshipped him as their adoptive father. It would be a good move to win over Gao Jie and his wife and recruit them to Zhu Shenzhui's side. Maybe they will play an important role in the future, and as long as he nodded and agreed, Xing Qiao'er would become a hostage in Wang Rong's hands, and he would not worry about Gao Jie having other ideas.

Zhu Shenzhu naturally thought of what Wang Rong had thought of, which was why he did not show any surprise after hearing it. Zhu Shenzhu naturally agreed with Wang Rong's decision, and was also very grateful to his uncle. Since he was preparing to start his private salt business, Wang Rong has always been his strongest supporter and backer. To put it bluntly, if it weren't for Wang Rong's help, Zhu Shenzhu would not be here today.

Wang Rong laughed and felt pleased when he saw Zhu Shenzhui. He thought that Zhu Shenzhu was indeed his promising nephew and that he had the same thoughts as himself.

"Uncle, what arrangements are you going to make for Gao Jie?" Zhu Shenzhui asked.

"In fact, what I said to Gao Jie is not false. Although the court has not decided yet, they have already intended to let Gao Jie go to He Renlong's army and be under the command of He Renlong."

As the commander, and the key figure who accepted Gao Jie and reported the matter to the court, Wang Rong received much more comprehensive information than others. Moreover, the angel who had just arrived from the capital was currently in Luzhouwei. As the host, Wang Rong naturally had to personally entertain and accompany the angel. After a few glasses of wine and some generous gifts in private, he naturally learned some news from the angel.

"He Renlong..." Zhu Shenzhui thought for a moment and said, "He Renlong is a fierce general. Although he is known as a madman, he is a relatively stable person. He is better than Cao Wenzhao. Besides, Gao Jie and He Renlong have no grudges from the past. It would be a stretch for him to go to his side."

Wang Rong nodded: "The court probably took this into consideration, otherwise they wouldn't have sent Gao Jie to serve under He Renlong. Otherwise, Zuo Liangyu is in Henan, and it's very close to Henan from Luzhouwei, so why send Gao Jie to He Renlong?"

"If it weren't for what happened today, I wouldn't have intervened in this matter. What does Gao Jie's whereabouts have to do with you and me? But it's different now. Since Xing Qiao'er has become my adopted daughter, Gao Jie is naturally my adopted son-in-law. In addition, this couple seems to be sensible and interesting. If you can use them for your benefit, there will be many benefits."

At this point, Wang Rong picked up the teacup beside him and took a sip of tea, then said leisurely, "I've thought about this matter. Since the situation is different now, we can't let Gao Jie go to He Renlong's side, and Cao Wenzhao and Zuo Liangyu are even worse. We need to find a suitable place for him."

"Uncle, what do you mean...?"

"You are still needed to arrange this matter." Wang Rong said to Zhu Shenzhui, "I remember that Master Zhang is in the capital? You have made many plans in the capital over the years. Although Master Zhang is not an official, he has a say in the court?"

"My uncle is right. Zhang Xijun has been in the capital for many years. As for his speaking in the court, it is nothing more than influencing some people and helping others privately."

"Hahaha! You..." Wang Rong laughed and pointed at Zhu Shenzhui. Zhu Shenzhui was being tactful, but in fact, Zhang Xijun was quite capable now. As early as the Tianqi period, Zhang Xijun had hooked up with Wei Zhongxian and Wei Liangqing. He was the commander arranged by Zhu Shenzhui through Zhang Xijun and Wei Zhongxian, and the same was true for Zhou Anmin's Jinyiwei.

Before Wei Zhongxian's downfall, Zhang Xijun had already sensed the danger and decisively cut off contact with Wei Zhongxian, and left the capital to hide. Later, when the eunuch party was investigated, Zhang Xijun was not implicated. When the eunuch party was settled, Emperor Chongzhen gradually came to his senses and began to regret taking action against Wei Zhongxian too early, and the matter was completely over.

After the liquidation of the eunuch party was completed, Zhang Xijun quietly returned to the capital and continued his life there.

Originally, Zhang Xijun was not an official. His friendship with Wei Liangqing was a personal matter and had nothing to do with the struggle in the court. In addition to being friends with the eunuch party, Zhang Xijun also helped other officials. Some of them even offended the eunuch party and were almost killed by Wei Zhongxian's men. It was Zhang Xijun who came forward to save them, which kept them safe.

Although officials put interests first and other things mean nothing in the face of power, they still have to uphold the basic ethics and bottom line of the literati. The life-saving grace is as great as the sky. Besides, Zhang Xijun is a man of great social skills and has a good reputation in the capital. In addition to the previous events, Zhang Xijun was not liquidated after his return, but was better off than before.

There were even several times when someone asked Zhang Xijun if he was willing to serve as an official, intending to give him an official position as a reward. However, Zhang Xijun smiled and refused, saying that he was just an idle person, and had no suitable fame. Being an official was not his intention. Living the life he wanted in the capital, drinking, appreciating the snow, reciting poems and painting with friends on weekdays, wouldn't it be happier than being an official?

His nonchalant attitude and his unmoved behavior not only did not make outsiders look down on him, but made him more respected. Over time, Zhang Xijun's influence in the capital became greater and greater. Not to mention the six ministries, he could even have a say in the cabinet and the palace. However, Zhang Xijun never took a step beyond that. He just made friends with everyone, helped others with money, and never took the initiative to ask others to do anything. The reason for this was, on the one hand, Zhu Shenzhui's explanation, and on the other hand, Zhang Xijun's own realization. Zhang Xijun played a huge role in the capital. Just by relying on his wide circle of friends and network of relationships, he could obtain a lot of information that outsiders did not know, and constantly sent it to Zhu Shenzhui through channels.

As for asking him to do things, let alone, how could Zhang Xijun be useful for these small things? In these years, he really took action very few times. Unless it was worth doing, or Zhu Shenzhu specifically asked for it, Zhang Xijun was like a hermit, and seemed extremely detached.

Wang Rong is Zhu Shenzhui's uncle and the commander of Luzhou Guard. Zhou Anmin is also the leader of Jinyiwei in Shanxi. He is naturally very clear about the situation in the capital and knows the importance of Zhang Xijun.

Wang Rong laughed a few times and said to Zhu Shenzhui in a serious tone, "You have to step in to handle this matter. Ask Master Zhang to find someone in the court to pass on the message and arrange for Gao Jie to be relocated. This shouldn't be difficult, right?"

"This is not difficult." Zhu Shenzhui thought for a moment and nodded, "I can write to the capital and ask Zhang Xijun to make arrangements. But uncle, do you plan to let Gao Jie stay in Luzhouwei?"

"Haha, how is that possible?" Wang Rong shook his head and said, "Luzhou Guard is a garrison. Gao Jie has a military post now. Moreover, the court hopes that Gao Jie will lead the troops to fight against the bandits. If he stays in the garrison, the court will naturally not agree. And even if they keep him, what's the point?"

"Uncle, what do you mean...?"

"Do you remember your cousin Jinwu's wife's family?" Wang Rong suddenly mentioned this.

Zhu Shenzhu was slightly stunned, and asked back: "Are you talking about... the Sun family of Zhenwuwei?"

"Yes! It is the Sun family of Zhenwuwei!" Wang Rong said with a smile, "His brother-in-law Sun Chuanting was reinstated by the court a few months ago and has been appointed as a Langzhong of the Seal Inspection Department of the Ministry of Personnel in the capital. Last month, the palace summoned him to meet with him, and a few days later he was transferred to the position of Shuntianfu Fucheng. It is said that the higher-ups intend to appoint him as a governor-general. If nothing unexpected happens, he will be sent out soon..."

"That's a good idea!" Zhu Shenzhui laughed immediately. He had just heard about this matter. To be honest, he and Sun Chuanting had met once and they had even had a competition in the backyard of Wang Jinwu's house.

Although Sun Chuanting's official position is not high at present, he is a well-known person in history. Moreover, as a civil official, Sun Chuanting is not only a formal Jinshi, but also proficient in martial arts and familiar with military books. He is a rare person with both civil and military talents. If there is a person in the whole Ming Dynasty who can be compared with Sun Chuanting, it is probably Lu Xiangsheng of Daming Prefecture.

However, compared with Lu Xiangsheng, Sun Chuanting was more of a commander than a general. Sun Chuanting, who was full of strategies, was extraordinary. He resigned from his post and returned to his hometown to avoid persecution by the eunuch party. Unexpectedly, the court finally thought of him. In just a few months, he was promoted to the position of Shuntian Prefecture's prefecture chief. Once he was sent out, he would be able to take charge of things on his own.

According to the current chaos in the Ming Dynasty, Sun Chuanting is likely to be appointed as a governor-general or lead troops to suppress bandits. However, although Sun Chuanting is capable, he has no foundation. Even if he becomes a governor-general, it will be useless if he has no available troops.

You have to know that both Hong Chengchou and Lu Xiangsheng have their own team. Hong Chengchou has He Renlong, and even though He Renlong is now under the command of Governor Chen Qiyu, there are still other people who listen to his orders. As for Lu Xiangsheng, it goes without saying that the Tianxiong Army trained by Lu Xiangsheng himself is his confidence. With such an army at his fingertips, Lu Xiangsheng can easily defeat Gao Yingxiang's troops, forcing Gao Yingxiang to turn around and go east to Shandong, and then continue to go south, completely abandoning his original goal of going to the capital.

But compared to them, Sun Chuanting was just a commander without troops. Even if the court later appointed Sun Chuanting as the governor, the troops he commanded were transferred from various places. Whether those generals were willing to obey Sun Chuanting's command, or whether they would not secretly obey him, was unknown.

If we take this opportunity to put Gao Jie's troops under the command of Sun Chuanting, then Sun Chuanting will be able to control the military power in the shortest possible time and gain a firm foothold. Moreover, Gao Jie is now Wang Rong's adopted son-in-law, and Sun Chuanting is Wang Jinwu's brother-in-law. From this point of view, the two sides are still relatively close relatives, and there is naturally no barrier between them. In addition, with Wang Rong in the middle, isn't it a good thing to kill two birds with one stone?
It must be said that Wang Rong had considered it very carefully, and this arrangement was the most secure and appropriate. After listening to Wang Rong's explanation, Zhu Shenzhui immediately agreed and said that he would write to Zhang Xijun in the capital as soon as possible, telling Zhang Xijun to ask him to find someone in the capital to help. If there were no accidents, this matter would be basically a sure thing, so Wang Rong could just wait for the news with peace of mind.

(End of this chapter)