Da Ming: Father, step aside, I'll be the prime minister!

Chapter 373 Stabilizing the Ming Army Camp! Uncle, you've finally woken up?

Xia had already prepared herself mentally for the pain of Zhang Rong's death.

As the saying goes, it is rare for a person to live to seventy.

Zhang Rong was over seventy years old when he passed away, so it's not a pity.

Even the British Duke's mansion could hold a celebratory funeral.

There is no doubt that the death of Duke Zhang Rong of England will have a huge impact on the Duke's mansion and even the entire Ming Dynasty.

The previous power structures will be rearranged.

Xia was undoubtedly already planning how to sort out the affairs of this large family.

But to her utter surprise, after preparing herself mentally, gripping her cane tightly, and struggling to support herself and the Duke's mansion, she received a completely different message.

"This"

Xia's vision went black, and she had obviously fainted. Fortunately, Zhang Yuanhao was protecting her from behind. He supported Xia and said in a trembling voice.

"Master! Is what you say true? My father has really been rescued?"

Zhang Yunxiu smiled and said, "How could I lie to you? Uncle is breathing normally and is not in any danger for the time being."

Don't be too confident.

“However,” he added, “it’s not a complete cure. We need to observe it for a while, and if it doesn’t work, surgery will still be necessary.”

After all, Uncle is getting on in years; anything can happen.

"Is this true?"

Xia was already in tears, her head full of white hair, and her voice was trembling as she spoke, unable to believe what Zhang Yunxiu had said.

Zhang Yunxiu smiled and retorted, "Since the old lady trusted me and entrusted the Duke to me, why do you no longer trust me now?"

Seeing the other person's radiant and confident demeanor, Xia finally felt relieved.

“Nephew! The Duke of Ying’s mansion will never forget such a great favor. Please accept my bow!”

She took two steps forward to bow, but Zhang Yunxiu dared not accept it and quickly helped her up.

"Madam, you flatter me. My uncle's health is related to the stability of our Great Ming Dynasty. He has always taken good care of the younger generation, which is only right and proper."

After much persuasion, Xia finally stood up, wiping away her tears.

Zhang Yuanhao, who was standing nearby, hurriedly asked, "Master, where is my father now? May we visit him?"

I'm still not entirely at ease until I see it with my own eyes.

Zhang Yunxiu shook his head and said, "Uncle is currently in the intensive care unit, so it is still inconvenient to visit. We need to try to maintain a sterile environment in the silkworm room and reduce contact with the outside world."

Given the level of disinfection in ancient times, if one were to accidentally contract any germs, all the previous efforts would be wasted.

"but."

Seeing the concerns of the people from the Duke of Ying's mansion, Zhang Yunxiu continued to add to the discussion.

“There are glass windows outside the intensive care unit, so we can observe the Duke’s condition from a distance. If the old lady wishes, she can find one or two people to accompany her to visit him.”

As he said this, he turned his gaze to Xia Shi.

After thinking for a moment, Xia said to Zhang Yuanhao beside her, "Hao'er, you shall come with me."

Zhang Yuanhao nodded emphatically and wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes with his sleeve.

Not far away, Zhang Yuangong, the eldest son of the Duke of Yingguo, saw this scene and couldn't help but feel a little lonely in his eyes.

Logically speaking, as the eldest son of the family and the successor to the next Duke of England, he should be the first to know the news and visit.

But today is different. Zhang Yuanhao seems to be subtly superior to me simply because he is Zhang Shiyuan's apprentice.
Zhang Yunxiu saw this scene, but he didn't seem to care much. He simply made a gesture of invitation.

"Please come with me, madam."

The three of them slowly entered the intensive care unit. After passing through a gate, Xia saw a room the size of a hall, with thick glass walls blocking the view. There was also a smell of alcohol in the air.

Xia frowned, wondering why there was a smell of alcohol in the smell, but she didn't ask.

After Zhang Yunxiu gave the order, the curtains in the room were slowly drawn open.

From a distance, the three could see Zhang Rong lying on his side on the hospital bed. His face was pale, but he was much better than before they arrived.

Seeing the heavy bandage wrapped around Zhang Rong's neck, Xia Shi couldn't help but cover her mouth, almost bursting into tears. But after seeing Zhang Rong's chest rising and falling with his breath, a huge weight was lifted from her heart.

Zhang Yuanhao excitedly exclaimed from the side, "This is the medicine of Xishan! Mother, this is the new science of Xishan! It has the power to change the world and the merit to save lives. I made the right choice!"

Tears welled up in Xia's eyes as she stroked Zhang Yuanhao's head and said...

"Mother knows! Mother knows! You made the right choice!"

Clearly, from this moment on, the British Duke's Mansion's trust and relationship with Xishan and Zhang Yunxiu will continue to deepen.

As for Zhang Yuanhao's apprenticeship, the British Duke's Mansion, which had previously been unwilling to acknowledge it, will now accept it as a matter of course.

The British government will continue to increase its support for Xishan.

Zhang Yunxiu, without changing his expression, continued to remind him.

"Madam should also be prepared that Uncle's health is still weak and cannot be improved overnight. There is a possibility that he will need to undergo surgery later."

He repeatedly lowered these people's expectations in order to prevent any unexpected events.

Xia wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and said.

"Don't worry, my dear nephew, I am prepared."

Overnight, news of the British Duke's serious illness spread throughout the capital.

With so many people around, even if the British Duke's Mansion wanted to cover up the news, it was still to no avail.

The first to receive the news was obviously Zhang Juzheng. He rushed to Renmin Medical Clinic overnight and breathed a sigh of relief after seeing that Zhang Rong was safe and sound.

After carefully inquiring about Zhang Rong's situation, Zhang Juzheng rushed to the palace without even having time to explain to his youngest son.

Emperor Wanli received the news that very night. He was awakened from his sleep by Feng Bao and was about to get angry, but after hearing the news that the Duke of Yingguo was seriously ill, he was jolted awake and immediately became alert.

"How is the Duke of England? Is he still alive?"

Feng Bao quickly bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, please rest assured. The Duke of Yingguo was already in grave danger, but fortunately, the Renmin Medical Clinic has the skill to bring him back from the brink of death through surgery."

"Was it Zhang Shiyuan and Li Dongbi who wielded the sword?" Emperor Wanli immediately guessed.

Feng Bao nodded and said, "It was these two. I heard that Princess Yongning was also involved, and the three of them performed the surgery on the Duke."

Nowadays, the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard have a close relationship, so their information network is much more efficient. In fact, Feng Bao received a message from Zhang Yunxiu in advance before coming to report to Emperor Wanli.

"Yongning?"

The Wanli Emperor had a strange expression on his face.

But after thinking it over carefully, he ultimately decided not to take it to heart and sighed.

"Let her go."

Feng Bao continued in a low voice, "Although the Duke is unharmed, the Capital Garrison and the Five Armies Commandery cannot be left unattended. Should we summon the Grand Secretary and make some arrangements?"

Although the capital of the Ming Dynasty is now very stable and foreign enemies rarely invade, the stability of the three major camps in the capital should not be ignored.

Emperor Wanli nodded and said, "Then let us summon the Grand Secretary." Feng Bao then said, "The Grand Secretary is already waiting in the Qianqing Palace. Please come in, Your Majesty."

The Wanli Emperor nodded and said.

"Let's set off."

Tonight is a sleepless night; the palace is brightly lit, with lights that have hardly ever been turned off.

Liu Xian, the Vice Commander-in-Chief of the Five Armies Commandery, Commander-in-Chief of the Left Army Commandery, and Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince, was summoned to the palace. He wore the official robes of a first-rank official with a unicorn design and rode swiftly into the imperial city.

Although Liu Xian was not born into a noble family, he made many military achievements after joining the army during the Jiajing era. He also distinguished himself in the fight against Japanese pirates and eventually quelled the rebellions in Guangxi and Sichuan. His prestige in the army was second only to Zhang Rong.

He traveled without stopping, even after entering the capital, his pace was very fast, until he met Zhang Juzheng, who was writing at his desk, in the Wenyuan Pavilion.

It was already past midnight, but the Wenyuan Pavilion was still lit up. Not only was the Second Grand Secretary Shen Shixing there, but the Minister of War Ling Yunyi was also present.

Liu Xian bowed slightly and said, "Grand Chancellor."

When Emperor Wanli first ascended the throne, Zhang Juzheng used the pretext of establishing the new emperor's authority to appoint Liu Xian to quell the rebellion of the Duzhang barbarians.

Prior to this, Liu Xian was deeply embroiled in impeachment by the civil officials and the "pure stream" faction.

Without Zhang Juzheng's assistance, Liu Xian would not have become the Left Army Commander-in-Chief. Therefore, even though the difference in their status is not significant, he is willing to respectfully address him as Grand Secretary.

When Zhang Juzheng saw him arrive, he was overjoyed and hurriedly went forward to greet him.

"Weiming! You've finally arrived. Seeing you has put my mind at ease after a whole night of worry."

With a look of concern in his eyes, Liu Xian asked, "Is the Duke still well?"

Even though he was the commander of the Left Army, Zhang Rong's death would not benefit him at all.

Liu Xian was not born into a noble family, so to have reached this position was practically the pinnacle of military achievements.

On the contrary, if Zhang Rong were to pass away, the question of who would take charge of the Beijing Garrison and the Five Military Commands would become a very thorny issue.

One small thing can have far-reaching consequences; Zhang Rong's safety is of utmost importance.

Zhang Juzheng said slowly, "There is no need to worry about this. The Duke of Yingguo has been out of danger at the medical clinic."

Liu Xian finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“However,” Zhang Juzheng said, narrowing his eyes, “it will take some time for the Duke of England to recover. Until then, you, Weiming, still need to pay close attention.”

Normally, the Ming emperor and his officials wouldn't be this nervous, since Zhang Rong could be replaced by another nobleman.

Duke Dingguo Xu Wenbi and Marquis Gongshun Wu Jijue are both good candidates.

However, the situation has changed since the court implemented the new policies.

Although opening the seas was an inevitable trend, it would inevitably affect the interests of some people. Zhang Rong had always been a pillar of the nobility, but things changed when Zhang Rong fell ill.

"But it's the Beijing Garrison."

Liu Xian said somewhat hesitantly.

"I think I will find it difficult to convince the public."

Zhang Juzheng was clearly prepared, and produced an imperial edict.

"His Majesty has already given instructions on this matter. It just so happens that Qi Yuanjing is in the capital. You two should receive the decree and go to the capital garrison to stabilize the morale of the troops."

Liu Xian took the imperial decree and his eyes froze upon reading it, but even so, he still seemed somewhat uneasy.

"Prime Minister, these three major camps in the capital have a combined force of over 100,000 soldiers; I'm afraid they are difficult to control."

It wasn't that Liu Xian was cowardly; it was just that the Beijing Garrison had been developing since the Yongle era and was now riddled with factions. Without the influence of someone like Zhang Rong, even with an imperial edict, it would be difficult to convince the soldiers to obey.

Standing to the side, Minister of War Ling Yunyi said, "Governor Liu is overthinking it. Since the reorganization during the Jiajing era, the Three Thousand Battalion has been renamed the Divine Pivot Battalion. Even with the Five Armies Battalion and the Divine Machine Battalion, which have nearly 100,000 troops on paper, in reality, they only have 50,000 to 60,000 troops. The three battalions are only superficially united; it is simply a matter of stabilizing morale."

Everyone present was a sensible person, so there was no need for formalities. The corruption of the Beijing Garrison was not a matter of a day or two. Even after Zhang Juzheng's reforms, when the imperial treasury had some surplus, it would still take a long time to revitalize the Beijing Garrison.

It could even be said that since the Tumu Crisis, the three major military camps in the capital had been declining day by day. When Emperor Wuzong made his southern tour and Emperor Jiajing neglected state affairs, the military strength of the three major military camps was not useless, but it was greatly reduced.

"That's not the case."

Zhang Juzheng, however, spoke up in support of Liu Xian.

"Although the three major camps are corrupt, they still have tens of thousands of troops. Now that the court is turning to reform, we must not allow any trouble to occur."

He thought about it for a while.

“In that case, I will explain to His Majesty that the Xishan Armory has recently started producing new types of firearms. If you and Qi Yuanjing lead five hundred trusted elite troops and equip them with such firearms, it should be no problem for you to control the capital garrison.”

Zhang Juzheng, as the Grand Secretary of the Ming Dynasty, could not possibly have been unaware of the power of the firearms from Xishan. He was even aware of it when Qi Jiguang went to Xishan last time.

These five hundred elite troops were naturally well-trained; each of them was equipped with a musket, a weapon of exceptional power, which would easily be enough to control the corrupt Beijing garrison.

Five hundred men is just the right number; too many would obviously be a threat, while too few would fail to achieve the desired restraint.

With the assistance of Qi Jiguang, this was naturally the safest approach.

Liu Xian understood Zhang Juzheng's intentions, but still had some doubts.

"Can these Xishan firearms really surpass those of the past?"

Zhang Juzheng's lips curled slightly: "Go and ask Qi Yuanjing; he knows better than I do."

From afar, Shen Shixing noticed the subtle change in the Grand Secretary and couldn't help but chuckle.

Zhang Juzheng constantly blamed his "rebellious son," but in reality, he was secretly proud. At this moment, he felt as relaxed as a fish swimming in a river or sea, and he must have felt completely at ease!

Zhang Rong had a long dream in which he returned to his prime at the age of thirty, leading his soldiers in battles across the north and south. He first pacified Annam to fulfill the wishes of Emperor Wen of the Ming Dynasty, and then led a northern expedition against the Tatars, ensuring that the Ming Dynasty would no longer face threats from the northern border.

Finally, Zhang Yunxiu suddenly came over and asked him to lead the navy to follow the example of the eunuch Zheng He when he sailed across the ocean.

This time, however, the Ming Dynasty was no longer the celestial empire that brought blessings to the world. Those who were willing to open maritime trade with the Ming Dynasty would be treated as friendly nations, but those who outwardly complied but inwardly defied it would be met with zero tolerance from the Ming Dynasty's powerful ships and cannons.

After decades of campaigns in the south and north, the Ming Dynasty finally unified the four seas and arrived at a blessed land called the Golden Continent.

Just as Zhang Yunxiu had said, the area was lush with water and grass, and the yield of rice and wheat was dozens of times that of the past. Cattle and sheep roamed everywhere, and there were even countless mountains of gold and silver.

If this land is conquered, the Ming Dynasty will never suffer from starvation again, and its territory and national strength will far surpass the prosperous Han and Tang dynasties.

Zhang Rong felt it was his duty to follow in the footsteps of his ancestor Zhang Yu and dedicate himself to the Ming Dynasty until his dying breath!
However, the Golden Continent had already been occupied by the Portuguese. During a battle, Zhang Rong was accidentally hit in the neck, and blood gushed out.

Zhang Rong felt her body gradually getting cold, and her neck was in excruciating pain, as if she was about to suffocate and die.

In the midst of this painful struggle, he felt that he was about to go to the underworld.

But faintly, a commotion could be heard.

"He's awake! The Duke is awake!"

Then came the sound of hurried footsteps.

Zhang Rong frowned tightly, feeling as if he were stuck in a quagmire and unable to move. He used all his strength to finally open his eyes slowly.

But as soon as I opened my eyes, I saw a harmless smiling face.

Who else could this person be but Zhang Yunxiu?
Zhang Yunxiu, wearing a mask, said with a smile.

"Uncle, you're awake?"

(End of this chapter)