Chapter 4068: Impatient
In the duty room of the Ministry of War Yamen, Jin Wang Li Zhi and Zhang Xingcheng sat opposite each other. The open windows let in the cool breeze, and the yard outside the window was shaded by green trees and the scenery was pleasant.
Li Zhi was holding a tea cup in his hand, frowning and said dissatisfiedly: "These gangsters are going too far, aren't they? You are the Minister of War appointed by the Political Affairs Hall, and you are the head of the official department. How dare they act on their own terms? It’s really hateful!”
To this day, his title of "Inspector and Minister of the Ministry of War" has not been lifted, and he still sits in the Ministry of War. After Fang Jun's painstaking efforts over the years, the Ministry of War has already become an important bureau among the six bureaus, second only to the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Household Affairs. Except that it does not have the right to command operations, it is responsible for the appointment of generals, logistics, and transportation of the imperial army. The real power lies with the Ministry of War.
How could Li Zhi let go of such an important yamen?
Moreover, he has already connected with Xiao Yu privately, and the powerful families in Jiangnan and Shandong are advancing and retreating at the same time, which is equivalent to the fact that the two highest official positions in the Ministry of War have been taken.
But he was hung up and couldn't control the ministry at all...
You can imagine the irritation and frustration in my heart.
Zhang Xingcheng was persuaded by Cheng Yaojin, and he was no longer as aggrieved as before. However, seeing that Li Zhi was very unhappy at this moment, he naturally followed the other party's words and sighed: "The incompetence of the humble minister has caused His Highness to be humiliated. It is really a crime." They deserve death... but let them be for the time being. Duke Yue runs the military department like an iron bucket, and it is unrealistic to find a way in and win people's hearts in a short period of time. "
Even if he is sidelined, there is still a title of Minister of the Ministry of War on his head. As long as the prince is deposed and Fang Jun loses power, sooner or later, the Ministry of War will be his own. But if the King of Jin reacts strongly at this time, leading to a boycott from all the Ministry of War, causing tension and putting ministry affairs on hold, and who knows how many people will be ecstatic to get involved, I, the Minister of War, may get his ass kicked off before he can even sit down... …
As for whether the Ministry of War will make a contribution in the process of the King of Jin's struggle for heir apparent, he doesn't care now.
The situation is unclear and variables still exist. Even within the Shandong Aristocratic Family, they all hold their own opinions and have not yet unified their will...
Li Zhi was speechless, and after a while he asked: "Lu Guogong is reorganizing the Zuowu Guards. My father is very likely to recruit him to the Beijing Guards. How is the progress?"
Zhang Xingcheng said: "Lu Guogong has now entered the military camp and is going all out to reorganize the troops. However, he was the vanguard all the way to the east and suffered heavy losses. After returning, he did not reorganize in time, resulting in even more severe losses in ordnance and soldiers. There was no March or May. Time will make it difficult to regain the original fighting strength.”
During the Eastern Expedition, Cheng Yaojin and Xue Wanche had been the vanguard of the army, attacking cities, plundering territory, and demolishing cities and villages. While making great achievements, they also suffered heavy losses. After returning to Guanzhong, the situation became increasingly tense. Although they did not participate in major battles, However, the failure to replenish troops and maintain ordnance in time caused the army's combat effectiveness to plummet.
Li Zhi frowned and said: "You personally keep an eye on the ministry, and all the ordnance needed by Zuo Wuwei and the generals and soldiers assigned to it must be allocated first."
Although there are many people in the court recommending Cheng Yaojin to lead his army to the city to defend the capital, and the emperor is also interested, after all, the official decree has not yet been issued. The longer this matter is delayed, the more variables will increase. Zuo Wuwei must be allowed to leave this morning Reorganization completed.
Zhang Xingcheng smiled bitterly: "It's not because I'm slacking off, but I'm really powerless... And I advise Your Highness not to try to put pressure on those ruffians, otherwise they will definitely embarrass Your Highness."
Not to mention anything else, if Li Zhi asked Cui Dunli and the others to provide military equipment to Zuo Wuwei as soon as possible, Cui Dunli would say as if he was treating himself: "The ministry is short of money and food. Not only are the workshops in the ministry unable to resume work, but also the salaries of the officials in the ministry." "Not paid in full", what should you do?
An Eastern Expedition, with the whole country's efforts, has depleted the national treasury; and the Guanlong clan launched a military revolt. The entire Guanzhong's agriculture and commerce were in decline, and all industries were in ruins. Repairs were needed everywhere, and money and food were needed for everything. Where could the Ministry of Civil Affairs get it? money?
What's more, the resumption of work in a single foundry bureau will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars...
Li Zhi was stunned for a moment, then became furious. He slapped the coffee table next to him and shouted angrily: "The Ministry of War is an imperial yamen. When did it become a personal plaything? These people are simply bullying others!"
However, he himself also understood that at least for now, he had absolutely nothing to do against Fang Jun and the officials at the Ministry of War. He could only be incompetent and furious.
He even dared not report the matter to his father, because then his father would not only not stand up for him, but would be disappointed with his incompetence. How could the world be brought to peace if a mere military department could not settle it?
*****
The military camp by the Kunming Pool was quickly built. The simple barracks made of cement, composite soil and bricks and stones are simple, elegant, spacious and bright, and can be settled in after half a month of drying.
The Sixth Army of the East Palace withdrew from Chang'an City one after another and entered the newly built military camps in batches. This made the atmosphere in Chang'an City increasingly tense. Everyone knew that the complete withdrawal of the Sixth Army of the East Palace from Chang'an meant that the Yi Chu incident was inevitable. The prince's power and foundation gradually collapsed, and countless people either waited and watched or participated, waiting for the new crown prince to be announced.
In the past dynasties, Yi Chu has been an earth-shattering event. It is uncertain when a huge conflict will break out, and countless people will be swept into it and suffer catastrophe...
Therefore, who will replace Donggong Liu and lead the garrison of the capital naturally attracts much attention.
……
In the monastery in the backyard of Ximing Temple, Li Zhi and Xiao Yu met secretly.
Outside the window, the leaves were blown by the wind and the shade of the trees was thick. The fragrance of tea in the monastery was dense and quiet. Xiao Yu stroked his beard, frowned, and said with a slight complaint in his tone: "The old minister has warned His Highness several times not to meet each other frequently in extraordinary circumstances. Your Highness has You can just ask the servant to bring it to the old minister, so why bother asking the old minister to meet here?”
The current situation is tense and there are too many variables. His Majesty has not made a decision on the choice of the crown prince. It is impossible to guarantee that he is not investigating the forces behind your highnesses. Whether the interests represented by the various forces can be integrated with His Majesty's governance philosophy and imperial power interests are His Majesty's primary considerations.
Especially the sudden impeachment of King Wei a few days ago, which caused turmoil in the government and the public. How could His Majesty not be worried that once the King of Jin unites the clans of Jiangnan and Shandong, he will completely suppress the King of Wei and the other princes. Once he becomes the crown prince, he will Will ascending the throne pose a huge threat to these princes?
Power always needs to be restricted. When one party is absolutely powerful enough to crush all parties, it will be a huge disaster...
Although King Jin was smart and understood this truth, at critical moments he would inevitably worry about gains and losses and become restless.
Still need to practice...
Li Zhi took a sip of tea to moisten his throat and said with a wry smile: "It's not that I don't know the importance, it's actually that guarding the capital is too important, but my father still refuses to make a decision to this day, which makes it difficult for me to sleep and eat well. What if my father does not appoint Duke Lu and instead chooses another general? ”
Guarding the capital is not only the most determined step in the fight for the throne, but also means that who the father's heart is is really important to the prince who is aspiring to the throne.
If he could gain the favor of his father and succeed to the throne smoothly, who would be willing to fight at the last moment and go against his father's will?
Otherwise, even if the competition for reserves is successful in the end, it will still be due to the essential difference.
In the "Xuanwumen Incident", my father won a great victory and took it away from me, but it became an indelible stain in my father's life. Even though my father led the generals of the Tiance Mansion to conquer more than half of the Tang Dynasty, he also faced the crisis of unstable imperial power after the "Xuanwu Gate Incident". What could I, a prince who "grew up in the palace" and "fledgling", do? To face the doubts and opposition of people all over the world?
What's more, the reason why my father was able to achieve the success of the "Xuanwu Sect Change" was that the interests of the entire Tiance Mansion had long been tied to his father's. Everyone was prosperous and suffered losses. Everyone gave up life and death and moved forward indomitably. But if I get to that point, do I expect the powerful families in Jiangnan and Shandong to share life and death with me?
Don't tie him up and offer him to the new emperor. Thank God for the reward...
Xiao Yu sipped the tea and said calmly: "Your Highness, please be patient. At least so far, your chances are greater than those of King Wei. If nothing unexpected happens, the changes will not be reversed. The more you behave, the more The calmness is more appreciated in the eyes of His Majesty. From the perspective of the veteran, the main reason why His Majesty has not made up his mind is that he has not completely controlled the current situation and still has doubts in his heart."
The matter of Yi Chu is of great importance. As the reserve is abolished, the interests of all parties will be involved. Some people will be happy, some will be disappointed, and the political situation will not be guaranteed to be turbulent.
His Majesty will not easily depose without absolute certainty of stabilizing any unexpected situation.
After all, with the sudden mutiny of the Guanlong clan, the power structure of the entire empire has undergone earth-shaking changes. It will take time to regain control of all this...
The first thing to bear the brunt is the stability of the clan.
As Li Yuanjing's conspiracy failed and his family was exterminated, the clan members were naturally frightened and uneasy, fearing that they would be involved in the dispute. In addition, after Yi Chu's interests were turbulent, panic was unavoidable. Who knows what those princes of the clan think? If it cannot be completely suppressed, once trouble occurs, the shock to the court and the damage to His Majesty's reputation will be immeasurable.
Li Zhi nodded in approval and sighed: "It seems that the Prince of Hejian County is coming back."
Xiao Yu raised his head and glanced at Li Zhi, feeling amazed at His Highness's keen sense of smell. This was not a conclusion that could be reached just by thinking about it. Li Xiaogong was guarding the Western Regions and there was no room for failure. Who would dare to transfer him back to Chang'an easily? But except for Li Xiaogong, no one else could convince the clan kings...
He praised: "Although the Prince of Hejian preferred the East Palace, at that time, the East Palace was the most important place in the country, and it was understandable to be loyal to him as a minister. But since the abolition of the crown prince was imminent, the position of the Prince of Hejian was extremely important for the ownership of the throne. , Your Highness should be aware of it.”
With Li Xiaogong's prestige and influence within the royal family, His Majesty Li Er will definitely ask him about his thoughts on the ownership of the throne, and the opinions given by Li Xiaogong will definitely influence His Majesty Li Er's final decision. The ownership of the reserve means the distribution of interests, which not only involves the various factions above the court, but also affects the distribution of power within the clan. How can His Majesty Li Er, who is arbitrary and arbitrary, be able to act as he pleases and insist on his own will?
(End of chapter)