The rumors in Beijing about Zhang Yuan's mission to Korea were spread by Yao Zongwen, Han Jun and others at the instruction of their servants in restaurants and tea shops. Now they have been corrected with the vigorous clarifications of Zhen Zidan and other royal guards. For the common people in the capital, they had previously After all, what I heard was just hearsay. It was said by Jin Yiwei who was on the mission himself, so it was naturally more credible. Moreover, Jin Yiwei was more expert at creating public opinion. Yao Zongwen and others obviously did not pay as much attention to public opinion as Zhang Yuan.
In the afternoon of July 29th, "Journey to North Korea" signed by Zhang Yuan and engraved by Hanshe Bookstore was already on sale in major bookstores in the capital. Guo Wei, a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy, wrote a preface for this book. Previously, Beijing The rumors in the book were an advertisement for the book. Many officials in the capital ordered their servants to buy the book. Zhang Yuan personally delivered the book to his doorsteps, including Wu Daonan, Zhang Wenda, Qian Longxi, Cheng Jiming, Xu Guangqi, Zuo Guangdou, Qi Shijiao, Wang Dazhi, Qi Chengshun, Yang Lian and more than ten people
Zhang Yuan is not afraid of others ridiculing him for asking for help. In this world, one must have a plan to retain power, and those who can make friends will never be arrogant and reject others. Three days ago, he ordered Wuling, Sheba, and Ma Kuoqi to take him and the North Korean envoy Yu Yan's letters and gifts went to Shangqiu, Henan to meet Yang Hao. According to the current situation, Nurhaci is very likely to invade Liaodong in advance. After the complete defeat of the Battle of Hu, Yang Hao would be the commander-in-chief of the Battle of Sarhu. Although the situation had undergone some subtle changes because of Zhang Yuan, as long as the Ming court decided to use a large number of troops against Hou Jin, Yang Hao, who was familiar with Liao affairs, Hao will definitely be elected because Yang Hao and Fang Congzhe are both students of Zhao Zhigao, the chief minister of the cabinet twenty years ago, and they also directed the war to resist Japan and aid Korea twenty years ago. Of course he is the best candidate to be the head coach this time. Others like Xiong Tingbi, Li Rubai and others do not yet have that qualification. Therefore, Zhang Yuan must exert his influence on Yang Hao. Now that Yang Hao is still idle in the countryside of Shangqiu, it is Zhang Yuan's perfect opportunity to show himself to Yang Hao. Zhang Yuan's letter to Yang Hao is full of words, including The prediction of the situation in Liaodong will soon be verified, which will definitely impress Yang Hao who has not yet come out.
Sheba and Ma Kuoqi accompanied Wu Ling to Shangqiu and then returned to Shizhu, Sichuan. Zhang Yuan received Xiaokanhe cards for them so that they could return home smoothly. At the same time, there was also a letter sent to Qin Liangyu, asking Qin Liangyu to pay attention to the movements of She Chongming, the governor of Yongning. If the imperial court recruits Shizhu and Yongning native soldiers to go north to Liaodong to help in the war, then they must be more careful about She Chongming. This time is not far away, maybe it is next year.
Although Zhang Yuan is responsible for his family and country, he still wants to be leisurely and leisurely when he has free time. Who says you can't have fun and entertainment in troubled times, so he took some time off from his busy schedule. On July 26th, Zhang Yuan and his eldest brother Zhang Dai took their daughter to visit Shichahai. Autumn in Beijing is the best season of the year, neither hot nor cold. The sky is clear and clear. Fruits such as gourds, jujubes, crispy white pears, grapes and chestnuts are all ripe. The water of Shishahai is exceptionally clear. Sitting on a cruise ship, listening to music and eating pears, is as good as the West Lake Half July Festival. .
Mu Jingyan, his daughter Mu Zhenzhen, and his nephew Zhang Mingqian got together for a few days. On the 27th, he received the Ministry of War survey card, and returned to Yulin with Hong Ji and Hong Xin to return his orders to Du Song. Of course, Zhang Yuan also Du Song prepared a gift and wrote a letter for Mu Jingyan to take with him. Wang Zongyue left Zhang Yuan and returned to his hometown in Taigu, Shanxi Province. Wang Zongyue will return to Beijing early next year. He has promised to stay with Zhang Yuan. Wang Zongyue has been with Zhang Yuan for many years. Traveling all over the country, he met people from all walks of life, but in the eyes of the officials and gentry with status and status, Wang Zongyue was a martial artist, which was inevitably contemptuous. But in Zhang Yuan, Wang Zongyue felt respected, and Zhang Yuan really regarded him as his teacher. courtesy.
Shen Que recommended Wen Tiren as the daily lecturer in the East Palace and Han Jun's memorial to impeach Zhang Yuan was sent to the Supervisor of Ceremonies but no reply was received. However, Zhang Yuan had already gone on vacation for ten days and had been sitting in Zhan Shifu since the first day of August. Zhang Yuan is now the right Zanshan of Youchunfang in Zhan Shifu. Although Zhanshifu's Zanshan is the same sixth-rank official as the editor of the Hanlin Academy, from the Hanlin Academy to Zhan Shifu is an accumulation of seniority. He is a young official. The only way to get promoted is that Zhang Yuan retains the post of editor in the Hanlin Academy and does not have to go to the Hanlin Academy. From now on, Zhan Shifu will be where he sits. How many people have to stay in the Hanlin Academy for six, seven or even more than ten years? , Zhang Yuan only spent one and a half years, this is the benefit of going to North Korea as an envoy
There was no official seal official in Zhan Shi's Mansion, so Qian Longxi, the Young Master of Zhan Shi, took over the seal. When Qian Longxi saw Zhang Yuan, he exchanged a few greetings and said: "Ciqing Palace sent a decree early in the morning that the Crown Prince wants to summon you at Wenhua Hall. The internal officials of the East Palace are still waiting, Zhang Zanshan should go quickly."
Zhan Shi's Mansion was not far from Wenhua Hall. Zhang Yuan followed Han Bennyi, the eunuch of the East Palace, to Wenhua Hall. The door of the palace was open, and several internal officials were in the hall. Seeing Zhang Yuan, they hurried to report the news. After a while, the emperor Prince Zhu Changluo has arrived, as has the emperor's grandson Zhu Youxiao. They haven't seen each other for half a year. Principal Zhu You is taller and his face is not as pale as before. Behind his father Zhu Changluo, he nods to Zhang Yuan and snickers.
Zhu Changluo asked Zhang Yuan about his mission to Korea. Zhang Yuan decided to talk about it. Zhu Changluo hesitated for a moment and said: "I heard that some foreign ministers were very critical of the affairs of Korea anyway, and I thought it was because of this."Zhang Zanshan was sent as an envoy to another country when he committed crimes, overthrown officials, and even committed treason. Why did he not stop such rebellious behavior but only add fuel to the flames? "
The atmosphere in the Wenhua Palace suddenly became tense. Although the tone of the Crown Prince Zhu Changluo's questioning was not very harsh, the questions were very sharp. The imperial censor Han Jun impeached Zhang Yuan in his memorial, basically attacking Zhang Yuan for shaking the Confucian etiquette and morals that founded the country. On this basis, Zhang Yuan must give a satisfactory explanation to the Crown Prince in person, otherwise the position of the official in the East Palace may not be guaranteed.
Zhang Yuan was of course well prepared and bowed and said: "Your Highness, Lord Guanghai, as the second son of a concubine, was the king of Korea, which was not in line with the national etiquette. I, the ministers of the Ministry of Rites of the Ming Dynasty, also criticized this a lot. I once said He refused to be canonized on the grounds of "the great righteousness of succession, the division of elders and young ones, and it is not appropriate to arrogantly appoint officials". However, later considering that Gwanghae Jun's position in North Korea was already stable, and the Jianzhou Jurchens were becoming increasingly powerful, the slave chief Nurhachi was unruly and unruly. In order to consolidate the northeastern border, he was granted the title of king. However, the confusion became worse after King Gwanghae came to the throne. He abandoned his mother and queen, slaughtered his brothers and killed his brothers, and the people were filled with resentment. Moreover, because the Ming Dynasty had refused to grant him the title of king, he even harbored a grudge against the slave chieftain. In collusion, the slave chief sent his think tank Narambakshi to conspire with Gwanghae against our Ming Dynasty. With the help of loyal people in Korea, I discovered the conspiracy and captured Narambakshi. After returning home, he was handed over to the Jin Yiwei for interrogation. Commander Luo will definitely report the truth to the palace. As for Lord Ayang bringing things back to order, that was because of the instruction of Princess Renmu of North Korea. I just happened to meet him, but I was slandered like this. I am deeply saddened."
Speaking of this, Zhang Yuan's tone was generous and a little sad, and he continued: "I remember that the Ban Chao of Han Dynasty surpassed the envoy Shanshan State. At that time, there were Huns envoys in Shanshan State. Ban Chao led thirty-six people into the city and killed the Huns envoys, forcing the king of Shanshan to Expressing his willingness to surrender to the Han, there were disloyalty to the Han in other countries in the Western Regions. Ban Chao either destroyed his country or supported a new king, which greatly dealt a blow to the power of the Xiongnu in the Western Regions. The Xiongnu finally fled far away and did not dare to compete with the Han. How could there be no such thing as Ban Chao? Where is the credit? If Ban Chao was unfortunate enough to be born today, would he be convicted of treason and rebellion as soon as he returned to the country?"
After Zhang Yuan finished explaining, the Wenhua Palace was silent. Wang An, the eunuch leader of the East Palace standing behind the Crown Prince, nodded secretly. Zhang Yuan is indeed a great talent, and this explanation is perfect. Zhang Yuan mentioned that Lord Gwanghae's position was unfair, and it immediately hit the heart of the crown prince. Although King Fu had conquered Luoyang, the threat still existed. Isn't it a coincidence that Lord Gwanghae's downfall coincided with Zhu Changluo's final victory in the battle over the country? Based on this alone, Crown Prince Zhu Changluo would support Zhang Yuan, not to mention that Zhang Yuan¡¯s subsequent self-defense, using Ban Chao as an example, was quite powerful.
Thinking of this, Wang An and Zhong Benhua looked at each other, and both of them smiled slightly. Zhang Yuan indeed has the qualifications of an assistant minister. What an assistant minister must have is the ability to deal with the emperor. No matter how colorful the articles are on weekdays, it is better to cut into the emperor's face. A word from the heart.
Zhang Yuan knelt down and said: "Your Highness, the diary of the minister's mission to North Korea has been published and printed. I have used this mission to record the military and political border preparations in Liaodong, Jianzhou, and North Korea, and I dare to present it to Your Highness. "
Zhu Changluo said: "Very good, bring it up."
Zhang Yuan immediately handed over a volume of "Journey to Korea Difficult to Travel" that smelled of ink, and Wang An came over to take it.
Zhu Changluo said to Wang An: "I have sent an order to Zhan Shifu and the Hanlin Academy to give lectures again tomorrow." He also said: "Wang Banban, the Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, and the gifts for all gentlemen should be sent early. Zhang Zanshan's gifts should be generous. It¡¯s a way to make up for the festivities of returning to the Dragon Boat Festival.¡±
Wang An responded: "Yes, I will do it immediately."
Zhu Changluo thought that it was difficult to reward Zhang Yuan's contribution and loyalty with two gifts, but he was unable to promote Zhang Yuan, so he said: "Mr. Zhang has excellent knowledge and moral character, and I respect him very much. Mr. Zhang will also give lectures to me in the future." Clear up the confusion.¡±
Giving lectures to Zhu Changluo is equivalent to being Zhu Changluo's teacher. This shows that once Zhu Changluo ascends the throne, Zhang Yuan will be reused. With Zhang Yuan's qualifications, this is a great honor. Zhong Benhua is secretly happy for Zhang Yuan, but Zhang Yuan But he declined politely: "Your Highness, I am only twenty years old this year. I have neither knowledge nor reputation enough to take on this important task. The emperor's eldest grandson is young and smart. I have taught the emperor's eldest grandson that he can be qualified for the job."
Zhu Changluo heard what Zhang Yuan said, and it was right when he thought about it. He was nearly twenty years older than Zhang Yuan. It was indeed inappropriate for Zhang Yuan to be his lecturer. Although Han Yu had the saying "no noble, no low, no good, no less," However, the officials obviously would not understand Zhang Yuan based on "Teacher's Theory" and would only criticize Zhang Yuan for being arrogant and arrogant, which would cause trouble for Zhang Yuan.
Zhu Changluo looked at the young and heroic Zhang Yuan and thought to himself: "Zhang Yuan is a pillar of talent, just leave it to my son Youxiao." He signaled Zhu Youxiao to come over, took his son's hand and said: "My son wants to listen to Mr. Zhang." Teach, be humble and ask for advice, don¡¯t be naughty.¡±
Zhu You?He said happily: "Yes, I respect Mr. Zhang very much. Mr. Zhang lectures very well and has a better character."
Zhu Youxiao has been worried these days that Zhang Yuan will be prevented from continuing to be his teacher by traitors, so naturally he wants to praise Zhang Yuan.
¡¡
When Zhang Yuan requested to be sent to North Korea as an envoy at the beginning of the year, Yao Zongwen and others were secretly happy. They all thought that going as an envoy was a chore and wished that Zhang Yuan left the capital and went to North Korea. Only now did he realize that Zhang Yuan had already benefited. It seemed that Zhang Yuan did not intend to fight with them in the Wanli Dynasty. To compete, he relied on the Crown Prince Zhu Changluo. Zhan Shifu was the administrative office of the East Palace. Once the East Palace came to the throne, Zhang Yuan would naturally rise to prominence. Yao Zongwen, Zhou Yongchun, Han Jun and other leaders of the three parties were extremely afraid of this. Wanli The emperor is fifty-five years old this year, which is considered a long life among the Ming Dynasty emperors who generally have a short lifespan. However, he must not have many more years to live. Zhang Yuan is only twenty years old this year, while Yao, Zhou and others are already Forty or fifty years old. After the new king takes the throne, I am afraid that he will not be able to defeat Zhang Yuan. Now Zhang Yuan is the hope of Donglin people in the court. Therefore, Zhang Yuan must be expelled from the capital within these two years and firmly control the government. In this case, even after the new king takes the throne, the power of the three parties will not be shaken. However, Han Jun's memorial to impeach Zhang Yuan has not been approved, and Zhang Yuan acted openly and openly. Di joined Zhanshi Mansion to serve
On the evening of the first day of August, after leaving the office, Yao Zongwen and Han Jun were talking secretly in the same car. Yao Zongwen said: "Brother Jingyu's memorial has not been approved yet. Zhang Yuan will still go to the palace tomorrow to give a lecture. It is really unreasonable."
Han Jun said: "Your Majesty was annoyed by the Beijing inspections in the past few months. Now most of the memorials on the impeachment of officials have been left unpublished, because Ding Si's Beijing inspections have ended, so I'm afraid it will not be easy to expel Zhang Yuan from the capital this year. Zhang Yuan He is extremely cunning. Only ten days after returning to Beijing, the diary of the envoy has already been published in a book. Has Brother Yao ever read the volume "Journey to Korea Difficult to Travel"?"
Yao Zongwen sneered and said: "If you have to find out its flaws, who can bother to read his diary? I bought the book yesterday evening. I haven't read it carefully yet."
Han Jun said: "Knowing your enemy and knowing yourself will help you fight a hundred battles. I actually read through it overnight. Zhang Yuan's self-defense is very powerful and can be said to be impeccable." His voice lowered and he asked: "What happened to Ruan Dacheng? If Ruan Dacheng can point out that Zhang Yuan's diary is incomplete If it is not true, it will give Zhang Yuan a heavy blow."
Yao Zongwen said: "Ruan Dacheng is a cowardless dandy. He is the backbone of the Han Society and has a long-standing friendship with Zhang Yuan. If he suddenly changes sides, he will not be able to wipe out his face, and he is also afraid of being ridiculed for being ungrateful and shameless. However, he has done so a few days ago. When he came to visit me, he had the intention of alienating the Han Society in his words, but he could not do anything to cut off the relationship at the moment. This person could only fan the flames and ask him to be a vanguard against Zhang Yuan, but he did not dare."
Han Jun said: "Jianzhou slave chiefs have been repeatedly humiliated by Zhang Yuan, so they will definitely invade Liaodong. When we gather together to impeach Zhang Yuan for the border troubles in Liaodong, it will be difficult for Zhang Yuan to argue. Ruan Dacheng will adapt to the wind." People like him are capable of adding insult to injury to Zhang Yuan."
Yao Zongwen said: "Zhang Yuan has repeatedly told people about the threat of Jianzhou slave chiefs, but don't let him really believe what he said. Liaodong will become a big problem for the Ming Dynasty."
Han Jun said: "How can Jianzhou threaten the safety of the Ming Dynasty? It is nothing more than plundering some cattle and sheep on the frontier. The population of Jianzhou is only one hundred thousand, and the population of our Ming Dynasty is tens of millions. How can Jianzhou compete with our Ming Dynasty? What's the point of suffering from sores and ringworms?" Out of concern, Zhang Yuan's threats of creating slaves are just scaremongering and he wants to relieve the Donglin people's plight in the court."
¡¡
On September 12th, the forty-fifth year of Wanli (the second year of Tianming in the Later Jin Dynasty), Nurhaci led his army to wipe out the Jurchen Hurha tribe in the East China Sea and returned to Hetuala City. He immediately summoned the beile and ministers to discuss military and state affairs. Last month In the middle of the month, Nurhaci received an urgent report from his eldest son Daishan on the south bank of the Hurha River. He learned that a coup had taken place in North Korea. His envoy Nalan Baksh was captured and the rest were killed. Nurhachi was furious. , hurriedly appeased the surrendered leader of the Hurha tribe, and led the troops back to Jianzhou. In early September, they marched to the Huifa River and received an urgent report from Daishan. Hurhan died at the foot of Fenghuang Mountain in the east of Lianshan City. Nurhaci Furious and with sores on his mouth and tongue, he led his troops back to Hetuala at night
In the political hall, Daishan, Amin, Mang Gurtai, and Huang Taiji, all the beile and ministers, led the civil and military officials to stand in four rows and eight corners. Nurhachi's face was gloomy and his voice was hoarse: "All bele ministers, from today on I can no longer live in such leisure, I have decided that I, Dajin, will go to war with the Ming Dynasty!"
Nurhachi made this decision not because of the impulse for revenge caused by the capture of Nalan Bakshi and the death of Hu'erhan. He had already planned it. Now the Jurchen tribes in the East China Sea have been leveled behind Jianzhou, and the Mongolian Horqin in the west They are related by marriage to him. Although Lin Dan Khan of the Chahar tribe, the largest tribe in Mongolia, still looks down on him, Nurhaci, Lin Dan Khan's influence in various Mongolian tribes has been greatly affected since he embraced the Red Religion, and Lin Dan Khan also has a close relationship with him. The Ming Dynasty will oppose you, so there is nothing to fear
Although Zhubeile and the ministers had known about Nurhachi's ambitions for a long time, when they heard Nurhachi solemnly announced that he would fight with the Ming Dynasty, everyone wasAlthough I was shocked, the Eight Banners Army was invincible in the white mountains and black waters, but it never had a large-scale head-on battle with the Ming Dynasty army. Li Chengliang's brutal suppression of the Jurchen tribes back then is still a nightmare for the Jurchens.
Nurhaci glanced at the expressions of the ministers and knew everyone's concerns, so he said to Huang Taiji: "Sibele will tell you about the reality and reality of the Southern Dynasty and the border preparations of Liaodong."
Huang Taiji, the man with splayed eyebrows and a red face who had appeared in Beijing before, took a step forward and recounted what he had seen and heard in Liaodong and Beijing over the past year, focusing on exaggerating the corruption of officials and the corruption of military discipline in the Ming Dynasty. Taking the Eight Banners soldiers disguised as horse thieves and fighting against the Liaodong defenders over the past few years, the Liaodong Ming soldiers were simply vulnerable. As for the last time Huerhan was defeated at Fenghuang Mountain, it was because the Ming envoy Zhang Yuan had 120 elite Jinyi guards. There were also 300 musketeers from Lianshanguan, but Huerhan had less than 30 cavalry. He hurriedly encountered an enemy that was ten times his own. He committed suicide and killed nearly 100 Jinyi guards and musketeers of the Southern Dynasty. If not for Huerhan's failure, The mount was shot by a musket and fell off the horse. It was a pity that Zhang Yuan had already been captured
Huang Taiji exaggerated the strength of Zhang Yuan's mission to encourage Minister Zhu Beile's confidence in going to war with the Ming Dynasty.