The time quietly came to March, the spring rain still continued, and the blue brick streets of Guangzhou City were often wet. Occasionally, a loud spring thunder will suddenly sound in the sky.

After a cold winter of peace and quiet, the Japanese made a comeback again. History proves that on 23 February, more than 6,000 Japanese robbers raided Chaozhou and other places in Guangdong, and the guards were in a hurry.

The invasion of more than 6,000 Japanese gangs has made Chaozhou and even the whole of Guangdong feel an unprecedented pressure. Although after the imperial court strengthened the anti-Japanese forces in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, in recent years, there have been many Japanese pirates who have fled to the coastal areas of Guangdong to commit crimes, but it is unprecedented for such a large number of Japanese pirates to come to the border.

In particular, the city of Guangzhou is located on the bank of the Pearl River, and once the Japanese invaders pass through the coastal defense fortresses of Chaozhou and Huizhou, they will be able to kill the city along the mouth of the Pearl River, and the city of Guangzhou, which has a population of millions of people, may fall.

All of a sudden, the entire city of Guangzhou was panicked, and they were concerned about the war in Chaozhou.

Naturally, this news could not be concealed, and it was transmitted to the capital in just a few days through the Daming Post Road, and it was sent to the cabinet of the emperor.

Syllable!

Jiajing, who was wearing a plain white robe, read the recital sent by the two important ministers of the cabinet, and immediately slammed this urgent recital to the ground, and his thin face looked furious.

But it's not just because of this incident, but since the beginning of this year, there have been too many affairs that have made him angry.

In the latest war in the north, the Tatar Altan entered Shanxi from Datong and plundered Wutai, Laoxian and other places, while the Tatar tribes also attacked Mizhi and other counties in Shaanxi, and simply regarded the Ming Dynasty as his tartar granary.

Now a lot of bad things are bothering him, which is obviously interfering with his great cause of cultivation, so he has not been able to make a breakthrough for a long time, which is simply a great crime.

"Holy Lord, please stop your anger!"

Old Yan Song and Xu Jie were waiting outside, Yan Song was sitting on the embroidery pier, and Xu Jie was standing. When they saw Jiajing's actions, the two immediately trembled and bowed.

Jiajing's anger has been released, as the king of hundreds of millions of people in the Ming Dynasty, he did not mean to suppress his anger too much, and directly asked Yan Song for advice: "Elder Yan Ge, how should this matter be decided!" ”

Weichen believes that the top priority at the moment should be to order Guangdong to do its best to suppress the Japanese. Anyone who does not do his best will be dismissed! Yan Song shrugged his ears and listened carefully, and after contemplation, he proposed.

In essence, he had already put his opinion vote on the recital.

In the past, he would have been improvised, but now he is getting old. His mind was no longer able to complete such a big change, and he couldn't immediately formulate a plan that was in line with the emperor's will, so he still said it according to the previous vote.

Jiajing's brows frowned slightly, his eyes fell on the paper of the ticket, and his face looked a little hesitant.

It's not that there's something wrong with this plan, it's that the consequences are too light. If everything is done lightly, every official can be safe and secure, and his great cause of cultivation will inevitably be repeatedly disturbed by such things.

And now, he hopes to be able to make a big move and severely punish the people involved, so that this kind of annoyance will happen less.

"Your Majesty, Weichen thinks this matter is not trivial! The country is located in the west of the Ming Dynasty, Guangdong is located in the south of the Ming Dynasty, and now such a serious Japanese disaster has occurred, not without antecedents, and Weichen suggests that it should be traced back to the source! ”

Before Jiajing could make up his mind, Xu Jie's eyes suddenly lit up, and he immediately admonished.

Old Yan Song silently turned his head and glanced at this junior who was recommended by him to enter the cabinet, since this junior expired his nine-year term of office last year, he was awarded the secretary of the ministry by the emperor, but he has repeatedly shown his edge.

A cabinet assistant who is also a celestial official, if it weren't for the fact that he was still deeply affected by Long, he really couldn't tell who was pressing whom. Even now, more officials are running towards Xu Huating's house, and his position has undoubtedly been challenged.

Jiajing's eyebrows raised, and he asked with some interest: "Elder Xu Ge, how should we trace the source?" ”

"Weichen thought that he was not clear, and suggested that a postponement be held!" Xu Jie raised his upright face, looked at Jiajing and proposed seriously.

Jiajing was a little moved, but he didn't make this decision immediately, but looked at the elderly Yan Song expectantly and asked, "Elder Yan Ge, what do you think?" ”

Old Yan Song didn't understand what medicine was sold in Xu Jie's gourd, but he still felt his will from Jiajing's tone, so he said seriously: "The old minister seconded the proposal!" ”

Tingtui and Tingyi are the most distinctive political meetings of the Ming Dynasty, the former is to decide on important personnel appointments, the latter is to discuss important court affairs, and the officials who are eligible to participate in the meeting are only cabinet scholars, six Shangshu, Shilang, the Imperial History of the Imperial Procuratorate, the Secretary of the General Administration, and the Dali Temple.

As soon as the news came out, it triggered extensive discussions in officialdom.

Although Xu Jie took the initiative to propose a court discussion this time, no one thought that Xu Jie wanted a strong man to break his wrist. The main person in charge of the turmoil in Chaozhou is undoubtedly Wang Fang, the governor of Liangguang, but nothing can be handled with common sense.

Otherwise, the former governor of Zhejiang, Zhang Jingming, killed nearly 2,000 enemies and made the first great war exploit since the anti-Japanese war, but he was removed from his post and beheaded in Xishi, and the will of the court and the saint is the key.

In particular, Xu Jie's current official reputation is stronger than Yan Song, and Yan Song's power comes more from the grace of the saint, and he has repeatedly postponed the proposal recently, which will undoubtedly win the favor of the important ministers.

In the afternoon of the next day, the court meeting was held in the Ziguang Pavilion in the West Garden.

More than 20 of the most important officials of the Ming Dynasty rushed in, separated into two rows like a court meeting, and then bowed to Jiajing who was sitting on the dragon chair, and shouted long live together.

Jiajing sat on the dragon chair, looking at the group of important ministers who were bowing down to him very indifferently, as if he was already accustomed to it, and gave Huang Jin a look to Huang Jin who was standing next to him.

"Flat!"

Huang Jin said to the officials below in the unique voice of eunuchs.

All the officials stood up one after another, but Yan Song was already old and had already received the gift, and sat down on the Jindun sent by Feng Bao. It's just that his spirit is obviously not good, and his eyes are slightly narrowed.

Like the saint, he didn't like such a noisy scene, but today he had to cheer up a little. After all, once the matter has been discussed by the court, it will be implemented immediately, and there will not be too much room for redemption.

As soon as this court meeting began, there was a smell of gunpowder.

Zhou Ting, the imperial historian of the left capital, strode forward and bombarded loudly: "The Japanese are in the west of the Ming Dynasty, what is it to cross Fujian and invade Guangdong, the minister thinks that it is all because of the Fujian governor Xiao Jinghui's ineffective suppression of the Japanese, and the two provinces are in trouble!" ”

"Ridiculous! The Japanese are on the sea, coming and going without a trace, and it is not a matter of one or two days that there is a Japanese plague in Guangdong, and I think it is clearly Wang Fang's fault! Wu Peng, the secretary of the ministry, immediately jumped out to meet the battle and retorted loudly.

Zhou Ting, the imperial historian of Zuodu, was extremely eloquent, and immediately said-for-tat: "Wu Shangshu, I'm afraid you have forgotten that this official has served as a political envoy in Guangdong for many years, right?" It is true that Guangdong has had its share of Japanese troubles, but it is adjacent to the South Seas and far away from the Japanese country. If it weren't for Fujian's ineffectiveness, why would there be a group of more than 6,000 Japanese invaders on such a large scale? ”

"You should ask Wang Fang about this! Now that such a serious plague has occurred in Chaozhou, shouldn't he, the governor of Liangguang, be responsible?

Wu Peng, the secretary of the ministry, bit Wang Fang and said in a strange manner.

Zhou Ting, the imperial historian of Zuodu, glanced at Wu Peng with disdain, but said with a cold smile: "Wu Shangshu, you are a noble person, how forgetful!" Last year, Zhoushan traveled south into the coastal areas of Fujian to plunder, how can Fujian Governor Xiao Jinghui not be blamed? Now there is an accident in Chaozhou, but Wang Fang, the governor of Liangguang, is responsible, what is the reason? ”

When everyone heard this, they suddenly realized.

The reason why the Xu Party wants to postpone the discussion is that there is this case in front of him. If it was decided by the saint, the saint would probably favor Yan Song, but the matter was completely different when it was put into discussion.

In fact, something similar happened last year.

After entrenching themselves in Kemeda in Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province for a year, Hu Zongxian, the governor of Zhejiang, was afraid of war and never ordered the generals to attack, so that the Japanese invaders were able to leave Zhoushan and sail south into the coastal areas of Fujian to plunder.

Therefore, the imperial historian Li Hu snorted Hu Zongxian for the three major crimes of arsonism and non-fighting, and Hu Zongxian, in order to relieve himself of the crime of arson, framed the general soldier Yu Dayou for his ineffective attack on the remnants of the widows in Kemei.

The chief soldier, Yu Dayou, was arrested and sent to Beijing, and is still in prison.

According to the way this case is handled, the responsibility will naturally not fall on Wang Fang, the governor of Liangguang, but should be borne by the Fujian side, and Xiao Jinghui, the governor of Fujian who belongs to the Yan Party, will undoubtedly bear the brunt.

Ay......

Wu Shan, as the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, is naturally qualified to stand here, but when he saw this scene, he sighed lightly in his heart.

Regardless of whether this logic is right or wrong, this seemingly clear line of thought has provided an excuse for officials and generals in Fujian and Guangdong to pass the buck. The anti-Japanese war should obviously be a national affair, but if this is the case, it is up to Zhejiang to bear it all.

But it can't be said that the responsibility lies with Yan Song or Xu Jie, after all, the two of them are for their own interests, and they can only blame this court party dispute. It is precisely because of this party dispute that right and wrong must be reversed, and Yu Dayou, the general soldier who killed four or five thousand enemies, will be squatted in prison.

Jiajing didn't like this kind of noisy scene, but left the dragon chair, which symbolized the pinnacle of power, and walked to the quiet room with a veil hanging on the right, where the ground was full of gossip diagrams and futons.

Through the thick veil, he could still hear the quarrels outside, and it kept him away from some of them.

Yan Shifan looked at Xu Jie, but he was very unhappy, and immediately said sarcastically: "Elder Xu Ge, why is there such a uproar in the south of the Zhoushan Waikou traveling south into the coastal areas of Fujian, you and I know it!" ”

"Yan Shilang's words make the official very confused, if you say it, please come up with evidence!" Xu Jie responded.

Yan Shifan's brows furrowed, but he heard a light cough next to him, and then Yan Song's aged voice came: "This is the court, there is no real evidence, you can't talk here!" ”

"Yes!" Yan Shifan was tired of eating, but he glared at Xu Jie fiercely with that good eye.

Xu Jie said as if he was turning a blind eye: "The Zhoushan Japanese invaders traveled south into the coastal areas of Fujian to plunder, and the blame lies in the general soldier Yu Dayou. ”

The cabinet secretary and the chamberlain took the red beans and mung beans, and voted on the plan of the left capital imperial history, and Huang Jin announced: "The red bean represents support, and the mung bean represents opposition, please start!" ”

Cabinet Secretary Naorou came to the officials in turn with a porcelain jar, the sleeves of the officials were very long, and he waved his hand into it and put the beans down, and no one could see whether he voted for red beans or mung beans.

After turning around, it was handed over to Yan Song and Xu Jie, and the results came out quickly, and everyone passed Zhou Yan's proposal to dispose of the governor of Fujian.

The result of the postponement was soon made clear, and the governor of Liangguang and the relevant officials and generals were not punished, but the responsibility for the turmoil in Chaozhou was borne by the governor of Fujian.

It is worth mentioning that this is a decision made by the important ministers, and it has little to do with the saints. It is precisely like this, it is okay to deal with the governor of Fujian, but it needs one person to sue.

In the same way, the imperial court will order the governor Li Hu to impeach the Fujian Fuchen for the crime of conniving with the two Guangzhous.

At this point, there was a small episode, and Yang Bo, the secretary of the Ministry of War, pointed the finger at Ma Kun, the secretary of the Ministry of War, and Zhang Ao, the secretary of the Nanjing Ministry of War.

This matter has to start from the 34th year of Jiajing, when Zhang Ao, the secretary of the Nanjing Military Department, founded the Nanjing Zhenwu Battalion in order to resist the Japanese. According to the old system: the monthly rice of the officers and soldiers of each battalion in Nanjing, one stone for those who have a wife, four tenths for those without a wife, and two middle months in the spring and autumn, each stone is half a tael of silver.

When Ma Kun was the secretary of Nanjing's household department, the silver was 0.4 taels, and the armies began to complain. Due to the poor financial management of Jia Yingchun, the secretary of the household department, he lost his official position, and was temporarily transferred back to Beijing to take over, which can be described as a pie in the sky.

Cai Kelian, the new secretary of the Nanjing Household Department, was unable to take care of things due to illness, and Huang Mao, the right attendant of the Governor's Household Department, was cut by the official, and every month each guard sent a branch book, and he must be blamed for fleeing; He also stopped the food for the wives of the soldiers, and the army was unbearable.

The army was hungry, and the rice was as expensive as 0.8 taels of silver per stone, and they demanded that the original amount be restored to 0.5 taels of silver per stone, but Huang Maoguan ignored it.

In February, in the middle of the year, Huang Maoguan still did not pay, so the army became angry. On the 21st of the same month, Zhang Ao, the secretary of the Ministry of War, went to the Zhenwu Camp in Nanjing to parade the army, and the troops made a big uproar, besieged Huang Maoguan's residence, killed him, and put his body naked in the city.

"Ma Shangshu, is this serious?" Jiajing said in a thin angry voice.

Only then did Ma Kun know that the water in the capital was too deep, and the pie falling from the sky could kill people at any time, so he knelt down and said: "The minister is guilty!" ”

"Take it to the Imperial Prison!" Jiajing didn't show the slightest mercy, and commanded lightly.

Yan Song and Xu Jie's men and horses were all shocked, and the smell of gunpowder just now dissipated a lot, and they all turned their heads and looked at the veil silently. Although they crushed and fought each other, they were separated by a veil, and it was clear that there was a fierce tiger sitting there.

Among the many dynasties, this Jiajing Dynasty is undoubtedly the most difficult to be an official, not only to guard against colleagues, but also to always remember the teachings of accompanying the king like a tiger.

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