Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 719 Pursuit
Wynn leaves.

Yang Shouchen turned around and looked at Liu Jian, asking in confusion: "What exactly does Eunuch Huai mean? He has been sitting here for the whole morning. What did they talk about?"

"Most of the talk is about cabinet matters."

Liu Jian answered casually.

Yang Shouchen understood immediately that Liu Jian didn't want to tell him the truth.

No matter how you look at it, Yang Shouchen is still a long way from entering the cabinet, so Liu Jian's words are more like "We talked about some confidential matters that cannot be told to you openly."

Yang Shouchen asked again: "Then... Your Majesty, why did you come in person to inspect the troops? The war in the northwest does not seem to have been completely settled. The little Tatar prince has come to the capital, but some Tatar tribes are still invading the border in Yansui, Gansu and other places. Does the Tatars coming here to discuss opening a border market mean that... if the Ming Dynasty does not grant them permission, they will still have rebellious intentions after returning and continue to lead troops to invade?"

Liu Jian said, "I have already asked Lord Xu. Lord Xu conveyed that Your Majesty wants to use this opportunity to demonstrate the strength of the Ming army, especially through the use of new firearms, so that the Tatars will retreat. In this way, if you give them the convenience of opening a horse market, you can achieve both kindness and severity, which will allow the northwest to be peaceful for a few years, and thus solve the problem of shortage of money and food at the border."

Without war, the expenses of the major military towns in the northwest will drop rapidly, and everything from military farming to reclaiming wasteland can be carried out in an orderly manner.

It also seemed to be laying the groundwork for the shortage of merchant settlements in the northwest and possible deviations in the allocation of money and grain that would result from the salt tax reform.

If wars continue on the border, the court's salt tax reform will produce many unpredictable side effects, leading to a further increase in the demand for money and grain on the front line, which will bring huge financial pressure to the court.

Liu Jian naturally stood on the standpoint of a reserve cabinet minister and considered this issue from the perspective of a decision-maker.

Yang Shouchen is more like a cynical young man who only cares about whether he can demonstrate the power of the Ming Dynasty and pays more attention to the immediate gains and losses. He pays close attention to every action of Li Zisheng and Zhang Luan in order to find faults in them.

Yang Shouchen said: "Who can believe that holding a military parade in Beijing can intimidate the Tatars? If such an action is effective, then the previous dynasty's victories over foreign barbarians will be meaningless."

Liu Jian did not answer, but asked directly: "Do you know that Wang Weining has arrived in the capital?"

"What!?"

Yang Shouchen frowned slightly.

"Your Majesty pardoned Wang Shichang's crime, allowed him to live in Beijing, and granted him a house. At the same time, he was prepared to entrust him with important tasks when the time was right. Do you know what your Majesty's purpose was in doing so?"

Liu Jian continued to ask questions.

Yang Shouchen was puzzled: "Your Majesty means... to use this person to intimidate the Tatar delegation?"

Liu Jian said, "That may be the case. However, Wang Shichang's situation is still a mystery. We only know from Eunuch Huai that he has arrived in the capital, but where he lives, who he has visited, and what he has done, no one knows until now."

Because Wang Yue did not come to the capital as an official, he did not stay in any official Ming inn along the way.

Few people in the court cared about Wang Yue's movements.

It was just that at such a special time, the Tatar Khan Batu Mongke happened to arrive in the capital, and Wang Yue got the news. If he appeared at the military parade, it would have a certain impact on the Tatars' psychology.

No matter how you look at it, Wang Yue can be considered a "dangerous person".

After so many years of fighting against the Tatars, from Datong to Yansui, Wang Yue had never been defeated...

Let’s not discuss things outside the battlefield. Just talking about fighting, Wang Yue is truly an expert. Even the Tatars have to admit that.

Yang Shouchen said, "Your Majesty, you didn't specially transfer him back for this inspection of the troops, did you?"

"Probably not, but since he has returned at this time, it is very likely that he will have the opportunity to participate. We might as well let him participate and show himself in front of the Tatars."

Liu Jian said, "Although Wang Shichang has been criticized, there are still many people in the Imperial Academy who sympathize and support him. Many people in the court think that he has been punished too harshly. What do you think if Wang Shichang and Li Zisheng appear in the northwest together..."

"Hiss... stop talking."

Yang Shouchen said with a dark face, "No matter what, we cannot let certain people covet military power... their wolfish ambitions must not be tolerated!"

Obviously Yang Shouchen also realized that if Wang Yue returned to Beijing, he would most likely become involved with Zhang Luan and Li Zisheng.

Once it reaches this point, there will be a problem that the civil officials in power will not be able to control the army.

If Zhang Luan were to gradually gain control of the military power and his reputation and appeal in the army were to increase, the traditional civil officials would be put in a very passive position.

The purpose of this military parade is self-evident...it is a test by Zhang Luan to improve his reputation in the army.

Thinking of this, Yang Shouchen broke out in a cold sweat and became more determined to oppose Zhang Luan.

……

……

At sunset.

The eunuchs in the Imperial Household Department are ready to leave.

Huai En finally arrived at this time. He had been busy outside for nearly a day and now he just came to the duty room to take a look. If there were any important matters, others could ask for his opinion.

Although he was in a semi-retired state, Huai'en knew that Qin Ji and others were not yet able to take charge, especially when it came to major matters involving national policy and military secrets, they had to seek his opinion.

"Hou Fang."

Before Tan Ji went to the Qianqing Palace to deliver the classified memorials to the emperor, Huai'en stopped him in time.

Hearing the call, Qin Ji quickly put down the work at hand, came over, and asked in a low voice: "Eunuch Huai, is there anything you can do for me?"

Huai En smiled and said, "Wang Shichang has already returned to Beijing. Did you know about this?"

Qin Ji frowned when he heard this, looking very puzzled, as if asking, should I know about this?

"He didn't come to see you?"

Wynn asked again.

"Never."

Qin Ji shook his head and said, "Why don't I understand what Eunuch Huai said? I have no friendship with Wang Shichang. What does his pardon and return to Beijing have to do with an old man like me? Why did he come to me?"

Huai En smiled but said nothing, as if letting Qin Ji figure out the problem himself.

Qin Ji was full of doubts and wanted to ask one more question, but he found that Huai En had no intention of talking to him anymore and had already turned and left.

……

……

When Qin Ji delivered the memorial to Zhu Youtang, he found that the young emperor was in high spirits and full of energy, and seemed to be planning to stay up all night to finish reviewing the memorial.

Just when Qin Ji was about to work late into the night with the emperor, Zhu Youtang seemed very concerned and advised Qin Ji to go back and rest early.

"My dear, you are getting old. Just let Li Rong and Xiao Jing stay up late with me...you can go back and keep Nanny company." Zhu Youtang's words sounded very warm.

Qin Ji was filled with gratitude: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I can still hold on."

Zhu Youtang seemed very insistent: "Nothing has happened in the past two days, you should go back early. You don't have to come to the morning court tomorrow. You have been too tired recently, you should rest more."

"Your Majesty, I will never forget your grace!"

Qin Ji did not feel neglected at all. He thought it was pretty good that he could not accompany the emperor to handle government affairs and could not participate in the decision-making of so many national affairs.

This mentality is not better than Huai En's.

Huai En often wanted to take charge of both big and small matters, fearing that the emperor was too immature and would be deceived and used by the ministers below, or that he would make bad decisions, leading to chaos in the government.

……

……

After leaving the palace, Qin Ji took a carriage and headed back home.

Even though he was now in a high position, he only had two more Jinyiwei escorting him on horseback, so he was not walking very fast. When he arrived at the door of his house, Qin Ji saw through the curtain that someone was waiting there.

Qin Ji didn't feel too surprised. After all, he hadn't changed his residence over the years, and there were many people who knew where his house was.

However, it was rare to see people visiting him openly like this. After all, he was not Liang Fang and did not have that much power to benefit others. People who knew him knew that he was a good-natured man who could not be beaten into anything. In the Ming Dynasty, it was usually considered a taboo for external officials to interact with internal officials.

"Eunuch Tan."

Just as Qin Ji got off the carriage and wondered about the identity of the person opposite him, he saw a haggard and weathered man in front of him walking towards him quickly.

Just as he was getting closer and closer and was about to be captured by the Jinyiwei who stepped forward to stop him, the man knelt on the ground with a plop and kowtowed to Qin Ji.

Qin Ji was shocked because he didn't know the other person at all.

"I am Wang Yue, a commoner. I am honored to meet Eunuch Tan."

The other party announced his identity.

This frightened Qin Ji so much that he quickly reached out to support him: "Are you Lord Wang Weining? You have made great contributions to the court, and you can't do this... I... I... this old man..."

I can't figure out what to do with Qin Ji.

Although Qin Ji came into contact with many powerful officials in the court, and even princes and nobles were friendly to him, there were not many ministers who could really cause huge waves in his heart.

As Wang Yue was once a famous battlefield demon in the Ming Dynasty, he was definitely an extremely terrifying existence, but he rose quickly and fell quickly. Tan Ji had been a companion to the prince in the East Palace, serving him tea and water, and had no chance to come into contact with such an awesome hero.

Seeing this suddenly, the other party gave him such a big gift, even though Huai En had warned him in advance, it was inevitable that he would feel overwhelmed.

Wang Yue did not hesitate. He immediately stood up and said with a flattering smile, "Eunuch, you are very busy. I have been waiting here for a long time. I have prepared a small gift. I hope you will not despise it."

As he spoke, he had two large boxes brought over. Just by looking at their weight, one could tell that what was inside was not just a "small gift" to simply deal with the matter.

Qin Ji was not that surprised.

It had been heard before that Wang Yue liked to give gifts to others, and was always very generous. However, he did not expect that after Wang Yue arrived in the capital this time, he would give him gifts, and they were so "generous".

but……

When you give a gift to someone, you must ask for something in return!
Qin Ji knew that Wang Yue had come with bad intentions, but he still invited him to the yard and then brought him to the main hall of his house.

Wang Yue obviously did not expect that Tan Ji, the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department and the commander of the Eastern Depot, would live such a "hard and simple" life. His residence was just a small courtyard house, and apart from his wife, there was only an elderly maid who helped to serve tea and water.

It looks very shabby at first glance.

However, this also made Wang Yue have some thoughts in his mind.

If you want to know what kind of person the current emperor is, just look at the people around him.

Tan Ji and Wang Yue sat opposite each other.

After waiting for the maid to serve tea, Qin Ji asked, "Why are you here, Lord?"

Wang Yue explained, "I am extremely grateful for the pardon granted by the court. I have now come to Beijing with my family to await the court's orders. I learned that Eunuch Tan lives here, not far from where I am staying, so I found an opportunity to come and visit him. I hope you will not mind."

At this moment, Qin Ji instantly understood why Huai En had "reminded" him in advance.

Because now everyone who is well-informed in the court knows that Huai'en is about to retire, and Tan Chang, the former second-in-command of the Imperial Household Department, is now exiled. The person who will succeed Huai'en as the seal holder of the Imperial Household Department will most likely be Tan Ji.

The current ranking in the Imperial Household Department determines the chances of promotion. The position of holding the seal should definitely belong to the chief scribe Tan Ji. In addition, Tan Ji has a teacher-student and friend relationship with the emperor, so the possibility of a reversal in the end is very slim.

Qin Ji said with emotion: "You really shouldn't have come... If the prince really wants to thank someone, he should thank His Majesty. And..."

Qin Ji was too embarrassed to say who else.

If Zhang Luan's name is brought up directly, wouldn't it be obvious that Wang Yue is being pushed into Zhang Luan's camp?

Huai En was worried that a group of people who had both real power and ability would collude with each other and threaten the current political stability of the Ming Dynasty. If he were to become an "accomplice", wouldn't that be tantamount to setting a trap for the Imperial Household Department?

But he also understood that the person sitting opposite him was not a fool. Didn't Wang Yue know who the most powerful official in the court was?
But obviously, Wang Yue, who likes to curry favor with the powerful, doesn't seem to care about how to please Zhang Luan. Instead, he likes to interact with eunuchs like him.

The person involved should have been confused and had a messy head, but Qin Ji suddenly "understood everything".

Wang Yue smiled and said, "Without Eunuch Tan's words of praise, how could Your Majesty be willing to pardon Wang's crime?"

"This……"

Qin Jixin said, it turns out that the people you, Wang Yue, like to curry favor with are those who are not on the same promotion channel as you.

So the people you have been making friends with before are eunuchs, not foreign officials.

Even if the other party is a relative of the emperor, you would think that it would conflict with your direction of promotion, so you came to visit me instead of Zhang Laizhan as soon as you arrived in the capital?

Qin Ji was a warm-hearted person, and he immediately said: "Prince, do you really not know why His Majesty pardoned you? I dare not take credit for this matter. I am not qualified to participate in such matters..."

Wang Yue said: "Isn't this all thanks to the kindness of you and Eunuch Huai?"

"hehe."

Tan Ji smiled bitterly.

I was thinking that eunuch Huai had made a mistake.

I was originally worried that after Wang Yue came back, he would immediately try to please Zhang Luan and become an assistant to the imperial relative, but it turned out that he was only thinking about currying favor with the eunuchs.

No wonder...

Why did Wang Zhi's downfall implicate the famous Earl of Weining? It turns out that when Wang Weining tried to curry favor with others, he really spared no effort. It is not an exaggeration to say that they were so close that they wore the same pants.

Tan Ji said: "Your Excellency can return to the capital mainly because you have made numerous contributions to the Ming Dynasty, and also because the court is in need of talents, and His Majesty urgently needs a great talent like you. I hope that Your Excellency can be dedicated to the court and not have any selfish motives."

"Yes Yes."

Wang Yue responded immediately, as if he was listening to the teachings of an elder, with great respect. After a while, he asked hesitantly, "Then... Eunuch Qin, I wonder when I can be granted the title... "

He paused at the end.

Tan Ji was stunned.

After talking for so long, it turns out you still have something to ask for?

Now that you've returned to the court, you haven't even gotten an official position, and you're thinking of taking back the lost title?
The previous emperor granted you the title of earl, then took it away, and then the current emperor returned it to you?
Do you really think the title of Ming Dynasty is a joke?

Tan Ji shook his head and said, "I dare not say much about this matter. But I think if you can make meritorious contributions to the Ming Dynasty again, it is not impossible to restore your title."

Without having done anything important, he wants to get back the title of Earl of Weining. Isn't that just wishful thinking?

Wang Yue said: "Although I am old, I have not neglected my military strategy and daily archery and horse riding in recent years. If the court calls me, I can go to the battlefield at any time. I don't know when..."

Qin Ji said helplessly: "Prince, don't you know the truth about this matter? Why do you have to ask me?"

"oh!?"

Wang Yue seemed very confused for a moment and looked at Qin Ji blankly.

Qin Ji said: "The Tatar delegation has arrived in the capital. The tribute has been paid. The northwest will remain peaceful for a long time in the future. As for other places... there seems to be no war. You..."

You want to serve your country, but the country is peaceful and the people are prosperous. Where are the opportunities for you to show your abilities?
Besides, even if there is a war, it is not your turn to worry about it, Wang Yue, a man who has just been pardoned and does not even have an official position.

Take Li Zisheng for example. He just won a victory. Wouldn’t it be great for the court to use him?
There are so many governors and generals in the northwest, and so many capable and warlike people in the court. Unless it comes to an absolute necessity, where will you be able to use your talents?
Wang Yue stood up, clasped his fists and said respectfully, "I hope you can give me some advice, Eunuch Tan."

(End of this chapter)