diskusbooks Chapter 692: It was like this before, and it will be like this in the future
Chapter 692: It was like this before, and it will be like this in the future
The so-called Chenqiao Incident naturally refers to Song Taizu Zhao Kuangyin, and is also the source of the allusion of "wearing the imperial robe".
At that time, Emperor Shizong of Later Zhou died of illness, and the successor Emperor Gong was young. In addition, foreign enemies invaded. Zhao Kuangyin was in charge of the military power of Later Zhou and led the troops at Chenqiao.
That night, Lao Zhao drank too much, and his men put the yellow robe they had prepared in advance on Lao Zhao, and thus the Song Dynasty was born.
Li Banghua's meaning was very clear. The Duke of Zhenguo might be devoted to the country. He acknowledged this, and he believed that many people in the court would also agree with this.
But what about the subordinates of the Duke of Zhenguo?
The Royal Guards were reorganized by the Duke of Zhenguo. Not only were the soldiers trained by him personally, but all the generals were also promoted by him.
The Huben Army was no less powerful. During a border patrol, the Duke of Zhenguo drastically replaced most of the commanders of the Nine Border Armies.
The Grand Commander of the Huben Army, Lu Xiangsheng, the Associate Commander, Sun Chuanting, and Wu Sangui, can all be considered direct descendants of the Duke of Zhenguo.
Qin Liangyu, the governor of Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan provinces, was related to the Duke of Zhenguo by marriage, and Qin Yiming and Ma Xianglin were both generals.
This does not even include the powerful generals such as Cao Bianjiao, Yang Guozhu, Hu Dawei, Meng Ruhu, etc. No one can be sure whether these people are more loyal to the court or have more respect for the Duke of Zhenguo.
This is the inevitable evil consequence of having the world's military power in the hands of one person.
You don't want to, but what if your subordinates do?
You can prove your loyalty, but what about the many people under you?
Li Banghua's voice was not loud, but it caused the atmosphere in the court to stagnate.
This is a difficult question to answer. If it can be considered an open conspiracy, it can also be considered a self-proving trap. The more people are involved, the more difficult it is to clear suspicion.
Even the nobles and relatives were silent, because they only dared to guarantee Zhang Shikang's eldest nephew. As for the many soldiers and generals below, who knew them?
Who knows what these people are thinking?
The court officials said nothing, but many of them who opposed entrusting military power to one person were secretly happy.
Their Majesty was inherently suspicious, and the problem Li Banghua mentioned was almost unsolvable.
There is only one answer: decentralization.
Emperor Chongzhen sat firmly on the dragon throne. At first, his expression was worried and his brows were furrowed, but it did not last long. Somehow he calmed down again.
His right index finger tapped lightly on the handle of the dragon throne, as if he was thinking, or observing the expressions of his ministers.
After a long time, Emperor Chongzhen stopped what he was doing.
"What Elder Li said does make sense."
As the Son of Heaven, his words almost determined the nature of the matter. The faces of the court officials who agreed with Li Banghua were filled with even greater joy.
After all, no matter what, they are going to win, and the military power must be divided. Only in this way will it be good for everyone.
At the same time, we are also pleased that Your Majesty listened to their advice. Your Majesty is still wise.
Emperor Chongzhen stood up, his eyes swept over Yao Kun and Li Gang, and finally stopped at Li Banghua.
"But...I won't listen."
The light words were like thunder, almost spraining the waists of Yao Kun and others.
If it weren't for Your Majesty, how could you speak like that?
Isn't this unreasonable?
This is the behavior of a tyrant!
Yao Kun wanted to leave the class to refute, but was pulled back by Haizhong and ultimately did not do it.
"I told Wuji before, if he doesn't let me down, I will never let him down."
These words made the court officials present pause again.
No matter what, as the Son of Heaven, it was somewhat embarrassing to make such a promise to a minister, but Emperor Chongzhen's expression was firm.
"As for your concerns, I understand.
But I still have to say that if I trust Wu Ji, I can trust the generals promoted by Wu Ji.
It has been like this before and it will be like this forever.
Do you understand?"
The court seemed to be still, with only the breathing of the officials being heard in the silence.
The current emperor has entrusted the destiny of the Ming Dynasty to a trust.
This level of trust has never been seen before, and it is unlikely to be repeated in the future.
Yao Kun suddenly felt a little relieved, relieved that the middle-level sea master had held him back.
Li Banghua also sighed and finally returned to his own train.
Emperor Chongzhen seemed to know that some of these court officials might really be thinking about the Ming Dynasty's country and people, so he was not very angry from beginning to end.
In any case, the Ming Dynasty was steadily moving towards revival.
More than a year ago, he truly realized his level of ability to govern the country and faced the reality.
This world is full of arrogance and prejudice. Only when you see yourself clearly can you see others clearly. Without self-knowledge, you will be doomed sooner or later.
He never wants to go back to the days of a few years ago.
In the past three years, he has disappointed Wuji twice.
Emperor Chongzhen was well aware of his own suspicious nature, so he reflected on himself and secretly vowed that it would never happen again for a third time.
Wuji was a wise man sent down by the ancestors only after he cried countless times in the Taimiao when the Ming Dynasty was in danger.
If he could not trust such a person, Emperor Chongzhen was worried that one day he would go to the underworld and his ancestors would not let him go.
Now the drought in the four northern provinces has been brought under control, and the people in the south of the Yangtze River have felt at ease after the thorough plowing of their land.
Reforms are underway, new crops are flourishing in all provinces, the bandits have been eliminated, and now the lost land has been recovered.
He no longer had to worry about the empty treasury, nor did he have to live in fear every day and suffer from sleepless nights.
He could even spare two hours every day to enjoy the joy of farming.
Two fen of potatoes, two fen of sweet potatoes, and half an acre of watermelon, as well as peppers, cabbage, radishes, winter melons, and squash...
The fruits and vegetables that you grow yourself taste really delicious.
How wonderful.
Why do you court officials want to destroy it?
"If there is nothing else, please withdraw.
Everyone, go down and get ready. In half an hour, follow me to Deshengmen to welcome the triumphant return of the pillar of the Ming Dynasty."
After Emperor Chongzhen finished speaking, he calmly put his hands behind his back and left Huangji Gate.
The mountain rain has not come yet.
It was blown away by the wind.
Li Banghua and Hai Zhongqi looked at each other, unable to hide their disappointment, and finally sighed and left the court.
Zhang Zhiji also sighed. He didn't say a word during the whole process.
As the father of the Duke of Zhenguo, he felt very embarrassed in the court. It didn't feel right no matter which side he stood on.
In fact, he had resigned from the emperor a year ago, hoping to stay away from the court and live in peace.
But the emperor did not agree.
……
Ten miles outside Deshengmen.
The sun is shining and the sun is rising.
The rumbling of chariots and the rustling of horses were heard, flags covered the sky, and tens of thousands of guards stretched from the land to the sky.
At the front of the endless team, there were a dozen young men, full of heroic spirit, dressed in fine clothes and riding horses.
The current Grand Tutor, the Grand Marshal of the Army, the Grand Secretary of the Wuying Palace, and the Duke of Zhenguo returned to his loyal city of Beijing.
……