"It's a good discretion," Ou Yangming clapped his hands and said sarcastically: "In this way, General Zheng can openly regard the firearms department, which is most valued by the imperial court, as his own workshop, and take what he wants." ”

Speaking of this, Ou Yangming said with an indignant face: "General Zheng, the emperor has given you the right to deal with it at your discretion, that is the emperor's trust in you, but the general can't use the emperor's trust to seek his own benefit, if everyone is like General Zheng who does not distinguish between public and private, then wouldn't Datang be in a mess?" ”

"This has been said" Wang Hui, the secretary of the military department, stood up and retorted loudly: "Shu can't agree with Ouyang Yushi's point of view, General Zheng's merits, and the colleagues present know that if Datang has a few more courtiers like General Zheng, Datang will inevitably be more prosperous." ”

Zheng Peng is a military general, and the generals of the world are close to each other, seeing that people like Zheng Peng are being harassed by the imperial history, of course Wang Jian can't help but hold grievances for Zheng Peng.

Last time, Zheng Peng just returned from Tubo and was impeached by Ou Yangming and others, Wang Jian did not support at that time, and secretly regretted afterwards, feeling that he was the secretary of the military department and did not safeguard the interests of meritorious soldiers, and felt ashamed, this time he saw Zheng Peng being troubled again, and did not hesitate to stand up.

The emperor gave discretion to dispose of it, and Zheng Peng also said that it was used for testing, and the reason was reasonable, and there were two points to note: first, the gunpowder was made by Zheng Peng, and he was most qualified to use it; The second is that gunpowder is contraband, and if Zheng Peng can get it out of the Firearms Department, he will inevitably have the acquiescence of the emperor.

With the above two points of view, Wang Jian naturally wants to stand up for Zheng Peng.

"That's right" Guide General Li Xun also stood up in support: "General Zheng said in the compromise, firearms are powerful on the battlefield, but there are still many shortcomings, there are still a lot of potential that can be tapped, and more tests should be made, but Ouyang Yushi does not understand military affairs very well, military affairs can not just be talked about, emerging weapons such as firearms need to be continuously improved and tested." ”

What kind of thing, if you don't understand anything, you will point fingers on the side, this Ou Yangming has the support of the prince, he has to intervene in everything, and he likes to bite people like a mad dog the most, many people in the court are dissatisfied with him, and Li Xun is also one of them.

Being ridiculed and questioned, if he was someone else, he was not angry or angry, but Ou Yangming did not look embarrassed at all, and even without the slightest wave on his face, he said without changing his face: "Wang Shangshu and General Li's words are very reasonable, the question is, why did General Zheng use the resources of the Firearms Department to do his own thing, this alone is difficult to block Youyou's mouth, right?" ”

Other things can be revealed, even if they are ridiculed, Ou Yangming can also be treated as if he didn't hear it, now he is biting Zheng Peng's public weapon for private use, as long as this gap is opened, it can consolidate the fact that Zheng Peng has selfish intentions, in this way, the emperor has the heart to protect Zheng Peng, and it is not good to protect him.

The task given by the prince to Ou Yangming is to use this incident to suppress Zheng Peng, and it is best to force Zheng Peng to take the blame and resign.

Zheng Peng said calmly: "I explained it just now, maybe Ouyang Yushi didn't hear it clearly, I'll explain it again, the destructive power of the large-scale test is amazing, the forbidden garden is not suitable for conduct, and I am afraid of alarming the nobles in the palace, blasting in the Black Mountain Pass is an expedient measure, you can't destroy other people's things for no reason, for example, take it to Ouyang Yushi's home to test the power of blasting, I don't know if Ouyang Yushi agrees?" ”

As soon as the words fell, many people in the court snickered, and many people looked at Ou Yangming gloatingly.

The officials in the court are not fools, who doesn't know that Ou Yangming is the prince's pawn, and he is really loyal enough to provoke Zheng Peng vigorously.

Ou Yangming said with a straight face: "If it is beneficial to the Tang Dynasty, as long as the emperor wishes, it is just a bad house, why not let it be tested by General Zheng, but General Zheng, there are many military camps and military restricted areas near Chang'an, even if it is a test, it can also be tested in the military restricted area, which is more convenient and easier to keep secret, why do you have to get the Black Mountain Pass for testing?" This makes one wonder about General Zheng's motives? ”

Speaking of this, Ou Yangming still bit it, Zheng Peng was also a little angry, and asked with a cold face when he heard this: "Ouyang Yushi seems to be very proficient in firearms, right?" ”

"I'm sorry, but I don't know much about firearms." Ou Yangming said frankly.

"I don't understand, then you're yelling at a fart" Zheng Peng turned his face and scolded on the spot: "Are you the Secretary of Ordnance or am I the Secretary of Ordnance?" Do you know why you chose to blast in the Black Mountain Pass, because it is half mud and half stone, the ground is hard, and it is the most suitable for testing, I don't know how to point fingers on the side, and I don't know that I am suspicious, firearms are not only contraband, but also important combat resources, whether it is manufacturing or testing, it is confidential, Ouyang Yushi is so concerned, I want to ask Ouyang Yushi's motives. ”

Ou Yangming was scolded by Zheng Peng pointing at his nose, and his face was blue and his neck was red with anger on the spot, and he wanted to refute, but he didn't know how to refute it for a while.

arguing in the court on weekdays, even if water and fire are incompatible, they will maintain their demeanor with each other, after all, they are all people with faces, Ou Yangming didn't expect Zheng Peng to scold people, he was not polite at all, and as soon as he opened his mouth, he scolded himself for being bloody, but he was too unfamiliar with firearms, even if he wanted to refute it, he couldn't talk about it.

Many ministers of the DPRK and the Central Committee had a smile on their faces, and it was Li Longji, and there was also a subtle smile on the corner of his mouth.

This Ou Yangming is indeed unpleasant.

"General Zheng's words are a bit strong" Seeing that Ou Yangming was defeated, Ye Ruonan, who had prepared early, immediately made up: "Public is public, private is private, General Zheng uses official things to do his own business, how can he not say anything, ordinary people also know that there are some things that cannot be done, does General Zheng not know how to avoid suspicion?" ”

"Oh, what does Ye Yushi mean that I took advantage of the public?" Zheng Peng asked unhurriedly.

Ye Ruonan said with a straight face: "Isn't it? The Black Mountain Pass is right in the middle of the road built by General Zheng, and if it is manpowered, it will take at least half a year to remove it, but General Zheng used firearms and razed it to the ground in just one day. ”

Razing a mountain to the ground in one day, this matter didn't take a day to spread to the streets of Chang'an City, Ye Ruoji was also extremely shocked when he heard it, if it wasn't for the prince to confirm it himself, he really couldn't believe it, this Zheng Peng was too unscrupulous, he used public weapons for private purposes without concealment, and when he was impeached, he still had words and no remorse.

"Taking advantage of the public?" Zheng Peng said uncompromisingly: "I don't think so. ”

"Oh, yes, I wonder what General Zheng's explanation is?" Ye Ruonan said reluctantly.

Zheng Peng glanced at Ye Ruonan and Ou Yangming, and then looked at the prince who seemed to have nothing to do with himself from the corner of his eye, and finally looked at the ministers and Li Longji in the court, and said without timidity: "Presumably the colleagues present know that the gunpowder was made by me by occasional inspiration, and I have done countless tests before, I don't know how much manpower and material resources have been spent, I have not asked the imperial court for a penny of appropriation, nor have I asked for any assistance from the colleagues present. Is this taking advantage of the public? In the early days of the establishment of the Firearms Department, most of the equipment, pours and even raw materials used were donated by me free of charge, did I take advantage of the public? ”

When they were desperate on the battlefield, they didn't know where they were, and they finally lived a few days of peace, and they vigorously stirred up trouble, and when they took money out to fight against red, used money to subsidize soldiers, took money out for pensions, and took money out for burial, they didn't see it, even when they used some gunpowder to blast it, they all saw it.

If it were possible, Zheng Peng would be eager to give them every gunpowder bag and let them see the power of a gunpowder.

"You can't say that," Ou Yangming said solemnly: "Under the whole world, it is not the king's land; As a courtier, you should be grateful, always remember to serve the Tang Dynasty and be loyal to the emperor. ”

Without waiting for Zheng Peng to speak, Ou Yangming continued to rush to say: "General Zheng's justification just now, forgiveness does not dare to agree, the war is outside, General Zheng privately mines salt, meddles in the black market, and also uses his position to resell materials, from which he makes a lot of profits, those expenses are mostly spent from illegal profits, and the biggest benefit from expenditure is also General Zheng's cronies and people who are good friends with the general, at most they borrow flowers to worship the Buddha, which cannot be regarded as selfless dedication, and the formula is offered, the emperor also rewards meritorious deeds, General Zheng received a large reward, and was promoted to the rank of knight, is all a compliment to General Zheng's efforts, and General Zheng's words just now seem to have objections to the efforts and gains, is this a resentment for the emperor's unfair treatment of you? ”

As soon as the words fell, the scene was silent, and all the ministers looked at Zheng Peng, wanting to see Zheng Peng respond.

The prince, who had always looked at his nose and his nose, looked at his heart, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, obviously expressing satisfaction with Ou Yangming.

Zheng Peng had 10,000 grass and mud horses running over in his heart, this Ou Yangming was really good at talking, and in just a few words, he would be charged with questioning the emperor, if he couldn't argue with him, he would have to be disrespectful.

"Ouyang Yushi is really eloquent, admire" Zheng Peng said calmly: "What happened just now, just a simple example, and did not question the emperor's meaning at all, the emperor is a bright monarch, without the emperor's trust and support, Zheng Peng will do nothing, for example, it also reflects the emperor's suspicious and unsuspicious quality, and it is just like this, those of us who are courtiers can wholeheartedly contribute to the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty, mobilize the resources of the Firearms Department to test in the Black Mountain Pass, in addition to measuring the latest formula of the Firearms Department, In order to explore the use of firearms in other aspects, just like cement, it can build bridges for the convenience of the people, and it can also build walls to strengthen border defenses. ”

"Hmph, even if General Zheng spits lotus flowers in his mouth, it can't erase the use of public weapons and the manifestation of selfishness." Ou Yangming said with a sneer.

"Exactly" Ye Ruonan said with a knife: "General Zheng can act recklessly if he thinks it is useful, where is the national law?" Where is the emperor? ”

The more he said, the more excessive, Zheng Peng said unceremoniously: "Joke, the emperor has a will, I can handle all the affairs of the Firearms Department at my discretion, and now it is a combination of testing and exploring new uses, as for not making it public in time, the main reason is to announce some results first, where is the wanton behavior?" Don't shout if you don't understand, there is an old saying that you have not heard, knowing is knowing, not knowing is not knowing, is knowing, don't know how to pretend to be suspicious, if you are not convinced, you can do it, you go on? See what you can do. ”

The more Zheng Peng spoke, the more angry he became, his face was torn anyway, and there was no need to save face for the two goods, so he asked loudly: "On the contrary, the two of them have repeatedly pursued the matter of Black Mountain Pass, I think the two of them are questioning the emperor's discretionary authority, implying that the emperor is unclear and improper?" ”

Don't you like to buckle hats, Zheng Peng will also do this trick, and directly give them a hat that questions Li Longji.

Ou Yangming and Ye Ruonan's faces were shocked when they heard this, and the two of them quickly knelt down, and said in unison in fear: "Weichen doesn't dare, please forgive the emperor." ”

After going around in a circle, it returned to the meaning of "discretionary handling", Ou Yangming and Ye Ruonan could use it to accuse Zheng Peng of private use, and Zheng Peng could also use it to counter the two of them from questioning Li Longji's will.

When the three of them argued, Li Longji didn't express his position, but watched the play with relish, just wanted to see how Zheng Peng responded, but he didn't expect to go around in a circle and kick the problem back to himself at once, and he was a little happy on the spot.

Li Longji coughed dryly and opened his mouth to play a round: "Okay, Zheng Qing's family has its own ideas, and Ouyang Qing's family and Ye Qing's family are also where their positions are, so don't argue anymore, get up." ”

"Your Majesty." Ou Yangming and Ye Ruonan hurriedly thanked him.

This can be regarded as a fifty board each, and they did not pursue what Ou Yangming and Ye Ruonan said, nor did they express their support for Zheng Peng.

The three of them argued for most of the day, and it didn't seem to be useful.

Zheng Peng is also a little depressed, he has nothing to say to Li Longji, he is good, if there is something, he will call Aiqing, if there is nothing to do, he will be at Qing's house, he promised to be good before, he can make his own decisions if he has something, and give himself the greatest freedom and support, but now it is good, he was besieged by villains in the hall, and he was watching the play in the hall, as long as he said a word with his consent, there was nothing, but he was either watching the play from the sidelines, or he was on the side and the mud.

Li Longji "does not fight righteousness", and the rest of the ministers are also watching the excitement one by one, except for Wang Jian, the secretary of the Ministry of War, who said a few fair words, everyone else is like gold, Zheng Peng also noticed that Li Linfu, who has always liked to be in the limelight, has made a fortune in a muffled voice from the beginning to the present, and faintly saw that there was a look of schadenfreude on his face.

I guess I was secretly happy to see myself being impeached.

Zheng Peng's eyes rolled, and he quickly said: "Li Zhilang of the Ministry of Officials is shrewd, fair, and good at resolving contradictions, so let Li Shilang say a fair word and comment on who is right and wrong." ”

If you want to watch a play, no way, Zheng Peng knows his character, such a good opportunity, naturally he wants to pull him into the water,

You can't let him live too comfortably, and it's best to completely marginalize him before he takes the throne.

What, let yourself judge right and wrong? Li Linfu froze for a moment when he heard this, and his face quickly became unnatural.

Seeing Zheng Peng being besieged, Li Linfu didn't say anything, but he was always very proud in his heart, and secretly encouraged Ou Yangming and them, hoping that they could bring down Zheng Peng, a thorn in the eye and a thorn in the flesh, it was best for Zheng Peng and the prince's family to fight and lose both, and benefit from it, but I didn't expect to watch the play well, Zheng Peng suddenly pulled himself in, of course, his face was difficult to see.