The Red Mansions

Chapter 758 Emperor Chongping: Confer Jia Heng as Prince Taibao...

Just when Jia Heng was reorganizing the army in the Jiangnan camp——

Shenjing city center
Daming Palace, Hanyuan Hall

The ministers in the palace are discussing matters. As the collection of autumn grain gradually occupies the theme of the political life of the Han Dynasty, and the rice, grain and silver payments in northern Xinjiang need to be arranged again, the cabinet and the military aircraft department have been frequently called to hold court meetings recently.

Yang Guochang, the chief assistant of the cabinet below, had a look of coldness on his old face, and cupped his hands and said: "My lord, Tan Jie, the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs in Nanjing, since summer in the south of the Yangtze River, there has been too much rain, which has affected the grain harvest. Please ask the sage to exempt this year's grain at his discretion." amount."

If the child suffered a defeat in the south, I think Lai Sheng's impression of the child can also be changed.

Emperor Chongping said in a deep voice: "Nowadays, the northern frontier army urgently needs to transport grain, and the grain transported from the south of the Yangtze River cannot be less."

Yang Guochang cupped his hands and said: "The old minister will write a letter to the Nanjing household department to urge the delivery of grain."

Yang Guochang finished his work and returned to court, it was almost noon, all the courtiers were hungry, and they all wanted to wait for Emperor Chongping to say goodbye to the court.

Emperor Chongping glanced at the courtiers below, and his eyes stopped on the face of Shi Jie, the minister of the military department headed by the Military Aircraft Department, and asked: "Military Aircraft Department, can there be a report from Jinling?"

Shi Jie quickly responded: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the memorials from Jinling haven't been delivered in the past few days."

Because the news of the collapse of the Nanfang Township navy was spreading in Beijing, and Emperor Chongping had not received Jia Heng's letter from Feige for a while, he was inevitably a little anxious.

It was only Jia Heng who wrote another memorial, so as to record the matter in detail and submit it to Beijing.

Emperor Chongping was silent for a moment.

At this moment, through the bead curtain hanging from the back of the hall, an inner eunuch poked his head out and winked at Dai Quan who was serving beside Emperor Chongping.

Dai Quan knew that there was something to do, so he went to the inner prison, took the brocade box containing the paper from it, paused, and hurried back to Emperor Chongping.

"Your Majesty, Yongningbo's Flying Pigeon is passing on the letter."

Upon hearing the words, Emperor Chongping took the paper from Dai Quan, flipped through it impatiently, and said, "Okay, as expected of Ziyu!"

As soon as this remark came out, the faces of the cabinet ministers and courtiers below changed slightly, and they thought to themselves, what did you say?
Emperor Chongping put down the note paper, looked down with expectant and doubtful gazes, and said: "Just now, Jia Ziyu delivered the letter from Feige. On August [-]th, the government and army won a great victory in Haimen. The captives have been defeated. Three hundred Jurchens were captured in the battle, four thousand pirates were captured, and the Eastern captives did not dare to enter Jinling again by boat, and the detailed military report will be delivered today by a six-hundred-mile express horse."

Because the amount of information that can be conveyed by flying pigeons is limited, there are not many words on the paper, but fortunately there are classical Chinese at this time. Although Jia Heng does not understand Shannon’s information theory, with the help of the knowledge of later generations of spy warfare, the simple encoding of information Still know a little bit, try to strike a balance between information distortion and simple compression.

However, the homing pigeon was still affected by the weather on the road. It could have arrived earlier, but I didn't want to arrive now.

As soon as these words came out, it was as if a turbulent wave had set off in the Hanyuan Hall, which was unbelievable.

How long has it been since Yongning Bo won another big victory?Is it really martial arts Changhong, victorious in every battle?

And when all the ministers had different thoughts, Liu Yuzhong, the Guozijian sacrifice wine not far behind Yang Guochang, frowned, his eyes flickered, he held a wat board, went out to play, and said: "My lord, Zhen Haijun is here It was destroyed on August [-]th, and the captives became the Jiangbei Daying Navy the next day, will this flying pigeon pass the letter..."

Well, Liu Yuzhong was obviously influenced by the previous memories such as "Jia Ziyu cleverly knew the false news, Emperor Chongping fainted in Xihe Palace", "Jia Ziyu showed his loyalty with courage, and Queen Xuefeng of Song Dynasty was attacked suddenly", Fu Ling's heart came, and his mind started , wanting to see through the authenticity of the letter passed by Feige.

And Liu Yuzhong's words obviously played some role.

Pang Shilang, the servant of the Ministry of Rites, paused for a moment, and said in a deep voice: "Master Liu's words are not unreasonable. Could it be that he has already been defeated, and the bandits deliberately used this to delay my court's decision-making and response?"

After these words came out, all the officials in the palace looked at each other in blank dismay, and after thinking about it, it seemed that it was not impossible.

"Isn't that what happened in the Battle of Henan? The false victory was intended to confuse my central vision." At this time, Cen Weishan, the servant of the Ministry of Punishments, nodded and said solemnly.

Emperor Chongping: "???"

Are these people doing it on purpose?Bringing up the past, exposing the scars?

"This is a carrier pigeon specially trained by the Jinyi Mansion. How can it be faked after several times of carrier pigeon transmission?" Emperor Chongping held back the anger in his heart and said in a deep voice.

But Liu Yuzhong said stubbornly: "My lord, I thought it was a prudent plan, and I still need to wait for the follow-up report to prove my words."

Emperor Chongping looked at Guozijian's sacrificial wine with his eyes under his thin and loose eyebrows, feeling angry and laughing at the same time.

Is this Liu Yuzhong reading books?
However, Liu Yuzhong's words were quite recognized by the officials of Ke Dao, and for a while, several head censors came out to agree.

Emperor Chongping's face was as calm as an abyss, he looked at Yang Guochang, and said, "Yang Qing, what do you think?"

"Your Majesty, we still need to wait for the memorial to report the victory. If it is a victory, it is not too late to celebrate." Yang Guochang cupped his hands.

"Han Qing."

Han Huang hesitated for a moment. He didn't want to answer at first, but he couldn't stand the aggressive eyes of the emperor, so he could only bite the bullet and said: "I think that in military and national affairs, there will be no mistakes if you are more cautious."

Emperor Chongping was silent for a moment, speechless for a while.

Just now he said he was asking about the success report, but in fact he was asking about the attitudes of the Qi and Zhejiang parties towards Jia Heng. Sure enough, due to the promotion of the Military Aircraft Department, he gradually paid more attention to Zi Yu, and the officials of the Qi and Zhejiang parties began to form a vague consensus of rejection.

This is not a bad thing.

Just when all the officials in the hall were quiet for a moment, suddenly, a young eunuch hurried over from the altar outside the Hanyuan Hall, and entered the hall panting, with sweat on his forehead and temples, holding a The brocade box said loudly: "Your Majesty, Yongningbo's military situation has been delivered urgently and carefully."

Because Emperor Chongping had specially explained that if Jia Heng's military information was obtained, it should be delivered to the palace immediately. No matter what he was doing at the time, he would come to report. Arrive in Shenjing City.

As soon as the eunuch said this, the hall fell silent, and all the courtiers were shocked.

"Dai Quan." Emperor Chongping ordered.

"The servant is here."

Dai Quan responded, holding a fly whisk, came up from the golden throne, took the secret box from the young eunuch, quickly opened it, took out a memorial from it, turned around and trotted, and presented it to Emperor Chongping.

Under the watchful eyes of the Chinese and military officials in the palace, Emperor Chongping took over the memorial at this time and began to read the text of the memorial.

Compared with the short text of the carrier pigeon, the narration of the battle report recorded in the memorial is undoubtedly more detailed and sufficient. It records in detail that after the defeat of the Zhenhai Navy, Jia Heng went to Tongzhou Weigang to help, and then cleaned up the remnant army in Tongzhou Weigang. Purge military discipline, encourage generals and schools, and also mention the matter of rewarding generals and schools for killing the enemy.

Then Jia Heng led the navy to attack the captive navy, and fought against the enemy in the first battle of Haimen. Big win.

After reading it, Emperor Chongping read it again, his cheeks were flushed, and he couldn't help but take another look at the seal and signature. After confirming it, he was even more delighted.

Well, what Liu Yuzhong said just now finally caused the emperor to suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder.

After all, if you fall into the same pit twice, you will die of shame.

Emperor Chongping saw that there was no abnormality, picked up the memorial, his face couldn't hide his joy, and said: "Dai Quan, show it to your ministers."

This time, there will never be a fake!

Hearing this, Dai Quan quickly took the memorial and went towards Yang Guochang, Han Huang and others.

After a while, the ministers circulated it, with shock on their faces.

Really let Yongningbo win?
Emperor Chongping looked at Liu Yuzhong who was holding the memorandum carefully, and asked, "Liu Qing, do you still see any doubts?"

Not everyone in this civil and military dynasty is Ziyu!
Liu Yuzhong was holding the memorabilia, saw nothing unusual, and looked sullen for a moment, handed it to Dali Temple Minister Wang Shu, and said to Emperor Chongping: "My humble minister is dull, and can't tell the truth from the fake."

Emperor Chongping looked at Shi Jie at the Military Aircraft Department, and asked, "Where is Shi Qing? Shi Qing has also read the memorial before, do you know if it is true or not?"

Speaking of it, it was also because he was hurt too deeply by the false victory report last time, Emperor Chongping simply went out this time and asked the courtiers below, as if subconsciously wanted to wash away the original shame in this way.

Shi Jie cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, the memorabilia has left the seal of the secret code agreed by Uncle Yongning earlier, and this will be used as the authenticity of the memorabilia, and I will confirm its authenticity."

As soon as these words came out, Liu Yuzhong's face was slightly shocked, while Yang Guochang's face became gloomy, and his heart was slightly startled.

The second assistant of the cabinet, Han Huang, also narrowed his eyes. This Jia Ziyu is really scheming, a privy minister, and there is a sign of the agreement?

When Emperor Chongping heard the words, a bright light flashed across his heart, and he suddenly said: "When Shi Qing said this, I seem to have remembered that Ziyu mentioned at the beginning that the military and political affairs contained in the secret brocade box of the Military Plane Department were for the sake of opportunity. Yes, don’t let it out, so there should be a secret sign in the memorial, I just forgot it for a while, and in the pattern of the memorial, I use the pattern of birds, the length..."

Earlier, Ziyu mentioned it to him, but later on he was busy with government affairs, so he didn't think of it just now.

Shi Jie quickly turned serious, and interrupted: "My lord...don't let this method go out all the time."

Emperor Chongping nodded, and said: "I forgot about it for a while, Shi Qing reminded me."

It is indeed not easy to make this kind of secret agreement known to the public.

As for the ministers below, they were all dumbfounded when they heard the two ministers almost sang together, narrating the key points of the secret playing box of the Military Aircraft Department. What else are they, the ministers outside the Military Aircraft Department, who don't know?
Emperor Chongping looked down at the group of officials, and said: "Your Excellencies, the military and state councilors are related to the peril of the country, and they have to be kept secret."

There is an unspeakable feeling in my heart.

Ziyu is really a minister who seeks the country and has far-sighted plans. If the military department delivered the official military report back then, there was also a secret method. How could there be a false success report earlier?
The officials below were already speechless in astonishment.

The second assistant of the cabinet, Han Huang, sighed in his heart. The emperor relied more and more on military affairs, and these cabinet ministers kept away from the ministers. This is a common law in a big bad country!

Just when the ministers had different thoughts, Emperor Chongping said: "Masters, Jia Ziyu won the great victory in Haimen this time by leading the navy, defeated the captives in the first battle, and even wiped out the white flag of Jurchen. The credit is not small. , have to reward."

The ministers were shocked again when they heard the words.

The Holy Majesty is going to give Jia Ziyu the title of nobility again. If he is made a Marquis because of his size, there will be no rewards in the future. Is that okay?
At this time, Yang Guochang, the chief assistant of the cabinet, hesitated for a moment, stepped out of the class and cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, Uncle Yongning has just been promoted to the first-class uncle, and His Majesty has treated him with great kindness. Reward for small merits?"

Emperor Chongping said: "Yang Qing, how can Uncle Yongning not be rewarded for his merits in defeating the pirates?"

Pang Shilang, the servant of the Ministry of Rites, came out of the class and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, although this achievement is commendable, it is by no means enough to be named a Marquis! In the past, the Taizu established a system. Unless you have made great contributions to the country, you cannot be named a Duke." In the Taizong Dynasty, there were people who made great achievements in the southwest and northwest, and the highest was no more than a marquis. I ask you to think twice."

Fang Huan, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, clasped his hands and said: "My lord, the famous utensils of the country's dukes are related to the method of the ancestors. How can they be destroyed by the merits of the ruler? As the saying goes, those who start the figurines have no successors, and the ministers are dull. Please think twice."

At this time, Cen Weishan, the servant of the Ministry of Justice, also cupped his hands and said: "My lord, the year of Yongning is not as good as the weak crown. Since he became an official, he has grown from a white man to a super-rank earl. His holy grace is unprecedented. At that time, if it was rewarded again and again, there was no way to advance the title, and I thought it was not a way to preserve it for a long time."

At this time, with Pang Shilang and the two servants of the Ministry of punishment and the Ministry of officials standing up, another servant of the Ministry of officials, Zhou Tingji, also joined Chen Zuo.

The censor in charge of the Metropolitan Procuratorate and the officials of the six departments came out one after another to agree, citing scriptures and allusions, and demonstrating from various angles that Jia Heng's meager work is not enough to be named a marquis.

Although Xu Lu, the censor of Zuodu, did not go out to join the class, he also paid attention to the movement of Emperor Chongping. If he proposed to be a Marquis, he would obviously object to it.

Qin Ye looked at the courtiers who came out to oppose each other, frowned, sighed in his heart, and looked around, Ziyu's hostile people in the court.

As an old man, he is still a bit uncomfortable to speak out in support.

Seeing this scene, Jia Zheng was also secretly anxious.

At the beginning, the meritorious service made by the virtuous historian in the northwest seemed to be not that significant, so he was granted the title of Marquis, so why can't Ziyu be granted the title of Marquis now?
Emperor Chongping looked at the courtiers who were inviting him below, his complexion gradually became as cold as stone, and his calm voice was slightly sullen, and said: "When did I say that I would make Yongning uncle a marquis?"

Pang Shilang, Cen Weishan, Ke Dao spokesperson: "..."

No, this is an overreaction?But the emperor was obviously very interested just now?

Emperor Chongping said coldly: "According to the memorial, Duoduo, the Jurchen prince, is still fleeing above the river and sea, and there is still a possibility that sea bandits will come to invade our Han sea. There are still a lot of battles to be fought in order to fight off the captives and bandits. Even if you are promoted to the ranks, you have to wait for Haiyan and Heqing, and the military affairs will be settled! How can I be stingy if I can wipe out the eastern captives in one year and even reach the king of the county with ordinary clothes?"

As soon as the emperor's words came out, the entire Hanyuan Hall fell silent, and immediately, the hearts of all the officials were shocked.

But having said that, it is really no problem to destroy the Donglu, and to be named a county king.

Emperor Chongping glanced over the ministers below, and said in a deep voice: "Masters, now that Jia Ziyu is Uncle Yongning, he can still be promoted and rewarded first, and his meritorious service should be rewarded first. Besides, as far as I know, his family ancestors have not given any gifts. , how can I bear it?"

To put it bluntly, the merits of being a Marquis are obviously not enough, but you can posthumously give it to your ancestors, and you can become an official yourself.

Yao Yu, the servant of the Ministry of Rites, thought for a while, held a wat board, and went out of the class to play: "My lord, the mother of Uncle Yongning has conferred the posthumous posthumous title of Mrs. Jiamao Yide. His father has not yet conferred the gift, so he should be posthumous."

Because, in the "Cijue Biao" quoted in Jia Heng's official resume, it was Jia Heng's mother who raised him up with all kinds of hardships, so he was posthumously presented as the Chaopin imperial wife.

Moreover, as a matter of fact, bestowing imperial orders is often given to mothers and wives. As for fathers, generally bestowing orders is not common, but it is not uncommon.

Emperor Chongping pondered for a moment, and said: "The Ministry of Rites discusses a beautiful posthumous posthumous posthumous posthumous posthumous posthumous posthumous title on Jia Hengzhi to honor his virtues. In addition, the cabinet drafts an order."

As he spoke, he looked at Han and Yang.

"My minister is here." Han Huang, the second assistant of the cabinet, played out of the class holding an ivory jade wat.

Seeing this, Yang Guochang endured a wave of irritability in his heart, held an ivory jade wat in his hands, and answered, "The old minister is here."

In the current cabinet, because Zhao Mo is still on his way back to the north, and Qi Kun is still patrolling salt, only the first and second assistants are left, and the two parties of Qi and Zhejiang are clearly separated.

Emperor Chongping glanced over the group of ministers, and said loudly: "Conferring Uncle Yongning and Jia Heng, Minister of the Ministry of War, as Prince Taibao, this official title is still not enough to reward him for his meritorious service. After the sea is calmed down, there will be other meritorious deeds, and then he will be promoted to the nobility."

Previously, when Jia Heng was the governor of Henan, he had joined the Minister of the Ministry of War. At that time, he was reluctant to be an official, but when he resigned as the governor, his civil official title was still only the second rank. That is to say, the second rank is the apex, but after adding the prince and Taibao, it is often the first rank.

If it wasn't for being too young, and the big man had already awarded Li Zan, Shangshu of the Ministry of War, the junior insurance, it might be possible to add a junior insurance.

As for Li Zan, who entered the Hall of Martial Arts as a first-rank official, he was also the crown prince and Taibao.

What Emperor Chongping meant was to add an official title first, and remember part of the credit for this time. When he has accumulated enough feats to become a marquis, he will naturally give Jia Heng a promotion. The invincible three hundred Zhengbai flag Ding.

When Yang Guochang and Han Huang heard the words, their complexions were clouded, and they cupped their hands and said, "Your servant, I would like to obey the imperial edict."

Civil servants and officials from the first-rank prince Taibao are much more valuable than the first-rank military officers and governors, and their status is comparable to that of the cabinet bachelor.

The momentum of Yongningbo is too strong, and it is indeed unstoppable, and the military aircraft department he advocates needs to be particularly vigilant. The two parties of Qi and Zhejiang have also recently recruited talents who know the soldiers, and wedge into the military aircraft department.

After Emperor Chongping finished speaking, his mood was a little excited, and he said with emotion: "Jia Ziyu fought well in this battle. The Guanjunzheng Navy Navy was defeated first and then won. It can be seen that it is not that I, Chen Han Navy, are incapable of fighting, but that I lack capable generals to command the army. .”

In the past few days, the unspeakable anxiety in the bottom of my heart has completely dissipated, and Ziyu did not disappoint him. Even against the Donglu, he still won every victory, and it may even be the water battle that he is not very good at. .

Listening to the emperor's happy words at this moment, the officials in the palace felt a little complicated and inexplicable.

And Qin Ye, who was below, heard the words of Emperor Jiamian's appointment as an official, and his face was excited.

Jia Zheng was also overjoyed beyond words. In the solemn Hanyuan Hall, he finally resisted the urge to twirl his beard with his hands, and there was only one thought in his mind.

Prince Taibao, such an official title should not be conferred on a highly respected minister of the country. Ziyu is so young, his name has been preserved in history, and has been famous for hundreds of generations. According to this momentum, it is impossible to say that he will be worthy of enjoying the Taimiao in the future and being enshrined with incense forever.

(End of this chapter)