Chongzhen's domineering

Chapter 288 Reorganizing the Embroidered Uniform Guard and Investigating Spies (Part 2)

Zhu Jue actually wanted to reorganize the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and secretly ordered Sun Chuanting to recruit tens of thousands of battle-hardened elites as secret guards!

This is something no one could have imagined.

This was all because the Embroidered Uniform Guard was still very powerful in name only. Wei Zhongxian would often lead a large group of Embroidered Uniform Guards to seize land. The Embroidered Uniform Guards were all very powerful, and they could easily take county magistrates and even prefects with them.

Moreover, Wei Zhongxian was still using the Embroidered Uniform Guard to thoroughly investigate the traitors, both openly and secretly, and the scale of the investigation was enormous, as if he wouldn't stop until the traitors were found.

It seems that even the Grand Secretary Han Kuang has been targeted by this guy. There are countless secret guards planted inside and outside the Han residence, and it seems that no move of the Han family can be kept from his eyes and ears.

The attention of the traitors in the court was all drawn to Wei Zhongxian. They were all trying their best to avoid the investigation of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Secret Guard. Who would have thought that the current emperor would send out a whole secret guard?

As for other officials in the outer court and even ordinary people, most of their attention was still focused on the military examination.

The current martial arts examination is different from the past. In the past, the martial arts examination was like child's play, because whether you could pass the examination or not, and even whether you could get promoted after passing it, had nothing to do with your own ability, but only with connections.

For example, Qi Jiguang, a war god of the Ming Dynasty, had already published a basic military treatise, but he failed the imperial examination for military affairs!

For example, Yang Bo's son Yang Junqing and Wang Chonggu's grandson Wang Zhiji were utterly worthless, lacking both literary and martial arts skills. Not only did they fail to contribute anything to the Ming Dynasty, but they also caused trouble for the Ming Dynasty by playing tricks on the "seditious book case." Yet, they both passed the imperial examinations through connections and became martial arts champions!

At this time, the military examination was all about ability. The chief examiner, Lu Xiang-sheng, was very fair. In order to prevent his family from affecting the fairness of the military examination, he did not even allow his son to participate in the military examination.

Furthermore, and more importantly, the martial arts examination was originally just a formality, like child's play, and there was no palace examination after that. No one knew whether the martial arts champion was skilled in martial arts or not.

At this time, not only was there a palace examination, but all the military scholars who passed the imperial examination were given important positions. The top-ranking military scholars were even directly granted military positions of the third rank or above, and their promotions were incredibly fast.

In the first year of the Chongzhen Emperor's reign, Zhu Youzhen and Wang Laipin, both top-ranking military scholars, were promoted to generals, each commanding their own territory. Wang Laipin was stationed in the Americas, while Zhu Youzhen was stationed in Southeast Asia. Both commanded numerous soldiers and were truly powerful military commanders.

As for what Pan Guozhong did, no one really cares; having Zhu Youzhen and Wang Laipin as role models is enough.

These two men rose from ordinary military examination graduates to powerful generals of the second rank in less than three years, a dream that most military examination graduates have made their entire lives. They actually achieved it.

Who doesn't want to rise to the top and become a powerful military commander with tens of thousands of troops?

With such excellent examples before us, dreams can truly come true.

Therefore, all the martial arts candidates who participated in the imperial examination were as excited as if they had been injected with chicken blood, only wanting to pass the examination with flying colors and make a name for themselves.

So, who exactly will make the list?

On the 29th day of the ninth month, around 5 PM, as the sun was setting, Lu Xiang-sheng carried the list into the imperial city and hurried towards the Yu Xi Palace.

At this moment, Zhu Jue was already sitting in the main hall of Yu Xi Palace, waiting.

In the setting sun, Lu Xiang-sheng, carrying a list that looked like a long spear, strode through the heavy guards and the eunuchs on duty, and hurried into the main hall. He cupped his hands and bowed, saying, "Your humble servant greets Your Majesty."

Zhu Jue nodded slightly, then waved his hand and said, "Ruoyu, Chengen, unfold the list and take a look."

Will any of these martial arts candidates become legendary figures in history?
He hadn't had high hopes.

This is because it seems that most of the famous military generals during the Chongzhen era did not come from military examination backgrounds, at least not during the Chongzhen era.

Unexpectedly, he only glanced at it before spotting a famous figure who would go down in history.

The second place in this year's martial arts examination was Wu Sangui!

As for whether he is the historical Wu Sangui, it seems there's no need to ask. This guy's hometown is Guangning Qiantunwei of Liaodong Commandery. It would be strange if he wasn't the Wu Sangui who was so angry for a woman that he would risk everything.

He seemed to vaguely remember the first place winner: Ai Wannian, a native of Mizhi Town, Yansui Commandery, Shaanxi Province!
Li Zicheng seems to have been from Mizhi Town in Yansui, and it's also said that he killed a creditor named Ai because he couldn't repay his debts.

Could Ai Wannian have some connection with that Scholar Ai?

He paused for a moment, then asked, "Jiandou, is this Wu Sangui Wu Xiang's son?"

Oh, how do I put this?

Lu Xiang-sheng nodded slightly, then explained in detail: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I know that Wu Xiang is a bit arrogant with his troops, but Wu Sangui's literary talent and martial arts skills far surpass those of this year's martial arts candidates. Only Ai Wan-nian can be compared to him."

"I have no choice but to place Wu Sangui second."

This guy is pretty good, huh?
Then it's even more unusable. The more powerful such a person is, the greater the harm they can cause.

Zhu Jue scanned the list again carefully, but he didn't recognize any of the people at the back of the list.

How are the rankings determined in the palace examination?

He thought about it and decided to see for himself first.

On the ninth day of the tenth month, the Emperor held a ceremony at the Huangji Hall to examine the military candidates.

The three hundred martial arts candidates who passed the imperial examination were all very excited, but Zhu Jue sat expressionlessly on the steps in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, secretly observing the people in front of him.

He originally thought Ai Wannian would be a scholar, like the legendary Ai Juren, but who would have thought that this guy would be a strong man as tall as an iron tower!
As for Wu Sangui, he was only in his early twenties at the time, and he looked spirited and vigorous, truly a rare military talent.

However, the more this is the case, the less likely he is to be given important responsibilities.

Such selfish people can become quite powerful if they are given important positions.

Who knows if this guy will be bribed by the Jurchens and the eight imperial merchants, and turn against them at a crucial moment.

This kind of person should just stay with his father and uncle!

After the palace examination, the list of successful candidates was published.

The champion of this year's martial arts competition is none other than Ai Wannian.

The second and third place winners were Liu Guozhen and Liu Chenggong.

As for Wu Sangui, he didn't fail to make the list; in fact, he ranked first in the second class.

However, when Zhu Jue was granting military ranks, he pulled a trick of promoting someone in name only but demoting them in reality.

Following the precedent set last time, the martial arts champion Ai Wannian was appointed as the deputy commander of the Beijing garrison.

The second-place finisher, Liu Guozhen, and the third-place finisher, Liu Chenggong, were also granted the title of Assistant Commander of the Beijing Garrison, following the same management system as before.

Wu Sangui, however, was exceptionally granted the title of Tongguan Lieutenant General and was soon sent to Tongguan to help General Wu Xiang and Deputy General Zu Dashou of Shaanxi guard that strategic pass in Shaanxi.

This seems to have nothing wrong with it, but the Wu family and the Zu family are almost vomiting blood because of his trick.

Historically, Wu Sangui only passed the military examination and became a military officer. He then rose through the ranks thanks to the power of the Wu and Zu families, and was promoted to general without having to participate in the military examination.

At this moment, Wu Xiang and Zu Dashou clearly felt that the current emperor wanted to exclude them from Liaodong Town, which is why they sent Wu Sangui to participate in the military examination.

They originally thought that it wouldn't matter if they couldn't return to Liaodong Town, as long as Wu Sangui could be given an important position in the Beijing Garrison, he would definitely become a general who could govern a region on his own.

As for Wu Sangui's strength, they were confident in it. Wu Sangui's literary and martial talents were not just for show; this guy was truly formidable.

Their goal was to let Wu Sangui infiltrate the Beijing garrison, gain the opportunity to govern a region independently, and then, with the power of the Wu and Zu families, dominate the region.

Who would have thought that Wu Sangui was not ranked first, and the current emperor even made an exception and promoted Wu Sangui to the position of Tongguan Assistant General, directly sending this kid to their side!
This completely shattered their plans, and their desire to amass military power was now gone.

Leaving aside Wu Xiang, Zu Dashou, and Wu Sangui for now, the traitors in the capital are also having a hard time right now.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Secret Guard are watching them closely!

Although Wei Zhongxian couldn't find any clues about them, they were forced to shrink back and dared not do anything, at least not in the capital.

Under these circumstances, they could only secretly send the capital's forces to the provinces.

Since they couldn't do anything in the capital, they could only try to make a difference in the local areas.

They never dreamed that their actions would run right into Zhu Jue's line of fire.

Zhu Juena also felt that no clues could be found in the capital, so he decided to start the investigation from the local areas!

(End of this chapter)