Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 724 The King's Uncle Is Not in a Hurry, but the Eunuch Is

To the east of the city, there is the parade ground.

The emperor and his entourage had not arrived yet, and the eunuch Luo Xiang, who was in charge of the Imperial Stables, and his subordinate, the eunuch Ning Jin, were waiting anxiously.

At this time, the Jingjun army composed of eunuchs was already making some preparations before firing, and Jinyiwei Captain Tan Yun also rushed over earlier to make arrangements.

In order to ensure the smooth progress of the artillery demonstration and to prevent anyone from causing trouble, Zhang Yanling did not trust anyone else and proposed to the emperor that Qin Yun be in charge.

After the training, this was not the first time that Qin Yun had set off fireworks, so he was well prepared.

Although Qin Yun is still only a captain, there are very few people in the Jinyiwei who can really control him.

Among the Jinyiwei who have arrived today, Qin Yun has the greatest power, and the Jinyiwei commander Zhu Ji is still on the way. Apart from him, the rest of the Jinyiwei are all focused on protecting the emperor's safety.

Ning Jin stood on a high place and looked for a long time. He was worrying about his poor eyesight when Qin Yun handed him a telescope.

"Thank you."

Ning Jin was very polite to Qin Yun.

Apart from anything else, at least a eunuch like Ning Jin who has already reached a high level in the palace knows who the hottest newcomers are now. The young man in front of him, with the help of the relationship between Qin Chang and Zhang Luan, has quickly become a hot figure in the Jinyiwei.

Afterwards, Qin Yun personally went down to arrange the loading of the artillery and set the shooting parameters.

Hearing footsteps behind him, Ning Jin looked back and found that his immediate boss Luo Xiang was walking towards him, so he quickly handed the binoculars to him.

“Is there so much of this stuff now?”

Luo Xiang frowned and shook his head, "In the first year, this thing was worth a fortune, how come now..."

Ning Jin said, "I'm also surprised... But this thing is really useful. When you put it in front of your eyes, things in the distance will immediately fly in front of you and you can see them clearly. I heard that people in the Imperial Astronomical Observatory are using it to observe the stars. It's so useful."

Luo Xiang glanced around and asked, "Don't we need to pay attention to auspicious times for today's military exercises? Why haven't we seen anyone from the Imperial Observatory come yet?"

"Oh, it's a mess everywhere..."

Ning Jin leaned close to Luo Xiang's ear and whispered, "You don't know, this matter is such a mess, it makes people's scalps numb. Who made Zhang Guozhang, who is highly regarded by His Majesty, still recuperating in the mansion? It was Qin Ji who was in charge of this matter before, and then it was replaced by Eunuch Huai... Do you think that a busy man like Eunuch Huai would come to check on the situation often? The result is... you also saw it..."

"Oh."

Luo Xiang was quite satisfied after hearing this.

Because Huai En had told him before.

If they want to cause trouble in this military exercise, they don't necessarily need to "take action". They can also take a passive attitude and drag their feet.

Can Zhang Yanling handle such a large military parade when no one is willing to help and even Zhang Luan himself is hiding at home recuperating from illness?
You are a teenager in your early teens, who can you tell?

Who will listen to you?

Not to mention listening to it, even if you go to meet with the bosses of various departments and want to communicate in advance, how can you do it with your strength...

No matter how capable you are, you are limited by your background, age, and your pitiful influence in officialdom... In this way, it is impossible for you, Zhang Yanling, to manage everything.

The foreseeable result is that this military parade will not only embarrass you, Zhang Yanling, but also the emperor. It will also make people all over the world think that your father Zhang Luan is useless.

Ning Jin said, "I heard that Eunuch Tan Ji Tan is also ill? Should we go visit him?"

Luo Xiang stopped him, "You are not from the Imperial Hospital, why do you care about this? Besides, why did Eunuch Tan claim to be ill? Don't you know?"

"Why?"

Ning Jin seemed very confused at the moment.

As for whether you are pretending to be confused or not, no one cares.

Luo Xiang was too lazy to say anything.

However, Ning Jin obviously knew it in his heart.

If Qin Ji came today and connected things a little bit, and the military exercise went smoothly, wouldn't that ruin Huai En's plan?

The best case scenario is that the people who were originally able to mediate are unable to come for some reason, and the result is that everyone will be waiting to watch the joke.

Ning Jin asked: "Then what should we do?"

Luo Xiang asked back: "Does anyone need us to do anything? They just want us to do some formality. Do you really expect the Jing army to charge into battle?"

The Jingjun has always been a showpiece used by the imperial court to decorate its facade and be responsible for ceremonial guards.

According to Luo Xiang, we should do all the things we should do. As for military parades and showing our national power in front of the Tatars, that is not what we should do at all.

All we need to do is make sure that the flags are flying, the drums are beating, and when the emperor comes, it feels majestic and magnificent. That's enough.

In the middle of winter, do you really have to torture yourself?
"But in my opinion..."

Ning Jin glanced back at the Jinyiwei who were actively preparing behind him, and said with a bitter face, "There aren't that many people here, shouldn't there be some grand scene?

"Where are the people from the Beijing Camp? We haven't seen anyone from the Duke of England yet. Is he going to come with His Majesty? Doesn't he need to prepare in advance?"

Luo Xiang said unhappily, "You worry about so many things! You should go and see where the young prince is now and ask him about the specific situation. I think it would be more appropriate."

Ning Jin is a very down-to-earth person. Hearing this, he suddenly realized, "Yes, then I will quickly go find someone and ask him what to do right now."

……

……

Ning Jin said goodbye to Luo Xiang, but did not go to find Zhang Yanling immediately.

Because he didn't know whether Zhang Yanling would come today, or whether he would come at all.

He found Qin Yun, using the excuse of returning the telescope.

"Eunuch Ning, just use it."

Tan Yun said with a smile.

Ning Jin looked around and whispered, "I want to ask, is Uncle Zhang here? This thing is useful, but I'm afraid it might break. I heard that colored glass is not very strong and it will break easily if it falls to the ground... hehe."

"fine."

Qin Yun thought that this thing was now available in large quantities.

In the past, it was considered a rare item and priceless.

But when the new emperor ascended the throne, everything seemed different. He could easily get some from the second son, and he almost gave one to each of his soldiers...

In this state, you still think it is a treasure?

“No one has arrived yet.”

Qin Yun said, "I heard that he might have to go give Zhang Guozhang medicine first, and come back after the diagnosis and treatment is completed."

"Ah!? It's already this late, and you still have time to see a doctor? Shouldn't this kind of thing be done by the Imperial Hospital?"

Ning Jin was very curious.

This little uncle Zhang is quite interesting.

We are not in a hurry, we are deliberately causing trouble so that you can't get your things done and embarrass yourself in front of others.

So you're not in a hurry at all?
He is really just a child, unaware of the dangers of the world.

Qin Yun smiled and said, "Don't worry, Eunuch Ning, it's just a few shots. It doesn't matter whether the Second Young Master is here or not... By the way, are you going to light the shots yourself later?"

"no need."

Ning Jin quickly waved his hands, "I don't know how to do it, and I don't have the ability. Just go about your business."

Ning Jin seemed very easy to talk to.

No matter how powerful he is, he must remain humble and cautious in front of this young upstart.

……

……

First, the Tatar prince Batu Mongke and his entourage arrived at the parade ground.

Not long after, the emperor arrived with his ministers.

Because the Jingjun had cleared the area in advance, there were no idle people watching around the parade ground. At the same time, this was a relatively desolate place in the east of the city... Unlike the various satellite cities that came later, at least in the early years of Hongzhi, the capital of the Ming Dynasty was still a city formed around the Sijiu City, and three miles out of the city was basically in the wilderness.

Not far away, you can even see mass graves.

When Zhu Youtang arrived, he seemed a little dissatisfied with the environment there, perhaps because he felt it was too shabby.

Huai En walked closer and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, it is still too dangerous to perform artillery exercises. To prevent accidents, you should hide far away and never appear within the range of the artillery."

The implication is, if someone suddenly turns the gun around and shoots at you, wouldn't you be dead?

Zhu Youtang waved his hand: "I'm not worried...Huh? Why didn't I see Yanling?" Huai En thought to himself, as expected, when you saw that the scene was not well prepared, the first thing you thought of was your brother-in-law.

It is said that the boy will encounter some twists and turns when he leaves the city today, so we must ensure that he will not have too much impact on today's artillery performance.

In short,...

An event without anyone to host or manage, and to demonstrate the majesty of the Ming Dynasty in front of the emperor and foreign envoys... forget it.

It was just a military exercise and it would not have the potential to affect the Ming Dynasty's national strength.

However, it will show that the Zhang family father and son are not well prepared for major events, and that they are incompetent, in order to show that only the orthodox civil and military officials in the court can ensure that the Ming Dynasty develops on the right track...

Huai En said: "I still don't know where the young uncle is. I have sent people to urge him. But there is news that he will not come until he has given medicine to his father, or he may leave the city later."

"What a filial child."

Zhu Youtang actually appreciated this very much.

Huai En was speechless after listening to this. Isn't this too ridiculous?

Aren’t the affairs of the court much more important than the affairs of a family?
Why did Zhang Yanling still not show up at the critical moment and still win extra points with the emperor? Should I not say that he was treating Lao Zhang, but that he got up late and was on his way?

"It's about time. Let's get everyone ready and start."

Zhu Youtang walked to the chair specially prepared for him, but did not sit down. Instead, he asked someone to bring his imperial telescope to him.

Zhu Youtang then said, "Give each of the nobles present a telescope so that they can see clearly."

Huai En said: "Your Majesty, is it necessary to distribute these strange and wonderful things to the ministers present? If they are harmful to them..."

Zhu Youtang frowned and asked, "It's just a bamboo tube with a few pieces of colored glaze on it. How can it be harmful?"

Huai En couldn't help but murmur after hearing this.

During the time of the previous emperor, it was repeatedly promoted that this was Huangshan mica, saying it was a gift from God to the world and a product of supernatural craftsmanship.

At that time, everyone from the late emperor to the ministers believed this nonsense.

Now you suddenly say it's glass?

Huai En reminded: "Your Majesty, I heard that a batch was made during the reign of the late emperor, and you were in charge at the time. I don't remember saying it this way. If you are criticized for this..."

"I don't think there's any problem with being pregnant."

Zhu Youtang said, "From the invention of a thing to its production, there must be a process of development and progress. Just like, no one knew that using just a few pieces of things, a distant scene could be brought closer, right?"

"Yes……"

Huai En nodded, not knowing what the emperor was going to say.

"It is precisely because of the natural carvings from heaven that the world knows that by using a few pieces of transparent glass, the same effect as the divine objects bestowed by heaven can be achieved. If we can imitate this kind of telescope, it will be of great help to our Ming army. So why not?" Zhu Youtang said as he had already taken the telescope in his hand.

The eunuchs below were already distributing telescopes to the ministers who had followed.

Many people did not come to watch the ceremony.

However, the Minister of Personnel Wang Shu was present, and so was the Left Censor-in-Chief Ma Wensheng.

The two of them are currently the vanguards against Zhang Luan's abuse of power, and they also seem to want to know what can be accomplished today.

Zhu Youtang said, "Huai Daban, don't worry about the details. The artillery show is about to begin. After watching it, I have to go back to the palace early. I asked the queen to wait for me and have lunch together."

"..."

Huai En originally thought that the emperor attached great importance to the current matter.

The more important something is, the more angry you will feel after failure, which will help to undermine the reputation of Zhang's father and son.

But now it seems that the emperor just came to take a look and didn't take it too seriously.

Then what’s the point of jumping up and down to prepare for so long?
……

……

With the arrival of the emperor and foreign envoys, the artillery show was about to begin.

At this time, Zhang Yanling still hadn't shown up.

When Huai En left the emperor and said he was going to arrange some things, Luo Xiang, the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Stables, came over and greeted Huai En.

Luo Xiang asked curiously, "Eunuch Huai, are you the one who presided over the military parade today? Why didn't I see the figure of the young prince?"

Huai En said: "Maybe he was delayed by something."

Luo Xiang seemed very nervous: "Then this... concerns you..."

The implication.

Is that guy going to just quit and run away?

I knew that I had not planned and organized well, and I also knew that today might make a big fool of myself, so I just threw the burden away and didn't care about it.

Let the Ming emperor and his ministers, as well as the foreign envoys, starve outside the city?
After all, we are still in the leap month of the first lunar month, and strictly speaking, the first lunar month has not yet ended.

At this time, everyone is wrapped up tightly. It's cold even if you have roof over your head all day. What's the point of running to this remote place?
Huai En said: "Are you afraid that if things don't go well today, it will affect me? Don't worry about it. My reputation is nothing. Just do your best. Don't deliberately cause trouble."

In fact, Huai En is still relatively "responsible".

When you want to cause trouble, I will do it secretly, but if you want me to withdraw people openly, or just watch the military exercise make a fool of itself, I can't do it.

In general……

I did everything I could in advance, and when things really happened, I just watched and saw how they would develop.

If something went wrong, I would admit it if I really blamed it on my poor decision-making ability on the spot.

Anyway, I am a dying man and I only have a few days left in the court. Why should I care about the reputation I leave behind?

I care very much about the future of the Ming Dynasty, and I have always considered myself a loyal subject of the Ming Dynasty.

Luo Xiang said, "There are only so few people, not even any cavalry. The Tatars are not newcomers. Do you expect to intimidate them with one or two cannons? And do you expect to satisfy His Majesty? How is this possible?"

For Luo Xiang, the current situation gave him a headache.

It's obvious that they are digging a hole.

You, Huai'en, may not care about what happens after your death, but we, a group of people, still have to stay in the Ming Dynasty Palace.

If you don't perform well today, are you the only one who is embarrassed by the emperor and you, Huai En?

Let’s not talk about the Zhang family father and son, let’s just talk about us, when we are ridiculed in the future, will we still be able to save face?

The emperor will also think in the future that there was an incident that you idiots did not handle well, causing me to lose face in front of others... Sorry, from now on you idiots should get out of here as far as possible.

Luo Xiang asked tentatively, "You mean, we should just...let things go on like this today? With so many eyes watching, do we really have to do this?"

Luo Xiang obviously didn't want to wear the same pants with Huai En anymore.

No one with political ambitions would associate with a person who is just giving up.

Huai En said: "Now that things have come to this, what else do you want? Didn't Uncle Zhang arrange everything properly? If he really thinks today's matter is very important, why doesn't he show up here in person?
"Your duties don't include military exercises. Do you want to rely on the people under your command to show the army's neat appearance in front of the foreigners? Can you mount the horse?"

Luo Xiang got angry when he heard this.

Who do you look down on?
The Ming Dynasty’s Jingjun is also capable of fighting, right?

Aren’t you also a “clean person”?
You actually look down on the same Jingjun as you?
Originally, Luo Xiang was happy to stand with Huai En, a famous loyal minister, but now he couldn't help but want to curse.

The atmosphere was extremely awkward for a moment.

Just at this moment, the sound of a horn was heard in the distance.

However, the warm-up activities for the military parade have already begun.

But there were only 20 or 30 Jinyiwei, riding horses, the team was not very neat, holding flags and rushing into the distance, as if to show how big this parade ground was...

It is indeed quite big, but it is mostly long and narrow. In the distance, besides a puddle that looks ordinary, there are also some scattered scarecrows and a few houses... I don't know what they are used for...

"Just keep a calm mind, the sky won't fall!"

Huai En said as if to comfort him, "After today, everything will be fine."

Luo Xiang looked back and thought, are you kidding me?

I'm not one of those small people under your command who can be fooled by just a few words from you.

I have been able to climb to my current position through my real abilities.

I, Luo, am not afraid of you!

(End of this chapter)