Chapter 548 547 The Worst Situation
“Governor Ji Liao?”
Zhang Juzheng was shocked when he heard Wei Guangde asked about this matter.
“I heard it hasn’t been decided yet. Why, someone recommended Shandai?”
Zhang Juzheng asked as if he was unaware.
Wei Guangde laughed loudly and said: "Can I recommend a second-grade official?"
"You are the censor. The court has not said how high the recommender must be to recommend talents."
>Zhang Juzheng stroked his beard and smiled, but he also heard from his words that Wei Guangde had no intention of intervening in this matter.
Perhaps, it was just a last-minute idea, just asking casually.
"Master Liu was transferred back to the capital from his position as governor of Guangdong, Guangxi and Fujian. In all aspects, his performance is not as eye-catching as Governor Jiang, who has made many military exploits this time. I'm afraid he won't be able to compete."
Wei Guangde smiled lightly.
"Master Liu also made countless military exploits in the battle against the Japanese in the southeast and in the battle to quell Zhang Lian's rebels.
The teacher was transferred back to the capital this time as a last resort. Of course."
Zhang Juzheng certainly knew that under the current situation, Liu Tao and Jiangdong really lacked the confidence to compete for the position of governor of Jiliao.
However, the relationship between Liu Tao and Xu Jie is such that they are both old friends for many years, so naturally they are not willing to let him idle at home.
Liu Tao, named Renfu and nicknamed Daichuan, was born in Liuxinzhuang, Cangzhou, Zhili. He was a Jinshi in the 17th year of Jiajing.
He has successively served as an official in Jinan Prefecture, in charge of the staff of the Ministry of War, and as a minister in Shaanxi Province. He is an expert in riding and shooting, has a good command of strategy, and has made many military exploits. He was deprived of love twice in his life, which is extremely rare in the officialdom of the Ming Dynasty.
During his stay at the Ministry of War, it was the 29th year of Jiajing, when foreign soldiers invaded the capital. Liu Tao, who originally wanted to return to his hometown to observe filial piety, was deprived of his love and participated in Operation Wei Wu. It was not until the end of the war that he asked Ding You to return to his hometown. .
After being reinstated to fill the vacancy of Suzhou Military Preparation Deputy, another change occurred in his family. At that time, Japanese pirates were rampant in the southeastern area of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and Liu Tao was once again taken away from his job as Jiahu Military Preparation.
After that, he was promoted to Deputy Envoy and Inspector of Hangzhou, Jiaxing and Huzhou. In order to stabilize Lingnan, he was also governor of the military affairs of Guangdong and Guangxi. Japanese pirates were rampant, and he also patrolled Fujian.
It can be said that Liu Tao's talents in border defense were discovered after Jinan Prefecture promoted officials. After that, all positions were military and civilian, and he did a very good job.
However, even for such an outstanding commander, he was still inevitably impeached.
In Liu Tao's battle to suppress the Japanese pirates, all the Japanese pirates fled and it was difficult to compete with them. Although he had resisted in the end, such as entangled more Japanese pirates to cause chaos, these were all defeated by the experienced Liu Tao head-on. , Liu Tao was promoted all the way.
However, not everything went as planned. It was okay to pacify Lingnan, but in the process of suppressing the Japanese, Liu Tao was criticized a lot.
For example, he failed to respond in time to the harassment of a very small number of Japanese pirates, a rebellion broke out in the troops, etc. Although he easily resolved the mutiny and rebellion, he did not escape the jealousy and jealousy of his "colleagues" by hiding here and there. Slander him, saying that he fosters bandits and respects himself.
The Japanese pirate rebellion in the Jiajing Dynasty was originally caused by the improper strategies of the imperial court, and it became more and more intense.
Before there is any change at all, the disaster caused by Japanese pirates is like a grassroots, which cannot be burned out by wildfire, and will grow again with the spring breeze, always stubborn and repeated.
Raising the self-respect of the bandits was not only the capital for many Ming Dynasty officials to accumulate merit, but also the source of their final downfall.
Faced with successive impeachments, Xu Jie could only take measures to protect him, which was to arrange for Liu Tao to be transferred.
In fact, through the deaths of Zhang Jing and Yang Xuan, it can be seen that Emperor Jiajing was a man who was eager for quick success and quick success. He only hoped to complete the errands assigned to him as quickly as possible without much patience.
When his patience is exhausted, he often kills the donkey.
The death of Zhang Jing is not so much that he was murdered by Yan Song and others. It is better to say that Emperor Jiajing underestimated the seriousness of the Japanese invasion. After being unable to make progress for two consecutive years, he ran out of patience and borrowed the hands of others to capture the Japanese pirates. Zhang Jing, after that, just ignored him.
As for Yang Xuan, it was because he knew that there were only more than 10,000 Tatars who invaded, but they were unable to advance and suppress them as quickly as possible, and even suffered repeated defeats.
"Actually, in my opinion, it may be more prudent to let Mr. Liu governor Ji Liao and Baoding."
Wei Guangde also said following the trend.
"Oh, what's the wisdom of Shanda?"
Zhang Juzheng was a little curious when he heard that Wei Guangde supported Liu Tao, so he asked.
"Xu Ge Lao and Yang Shangshu are both on good terms with Prince Yu's Mansion, so I can be more impartial in judging the candidate for Governor of Ji Liao."
Wei Guangde smiled and said: "I also listen. It is said that Mr. Liu was an expert in cavalry and archery, and was well versed in strategy. When he was serving as the governor of Shaanxi Province, he once led an army to fight against the rebels. The Tatars who entered Shaanxi fought and killed the bandit chief Milia, which showed that he was also capable of fighting the Mongolian Tatars.
And in Jiangnan, he participated in many rounds of encirclement and suppression of Japanese pirates and pacified Lingnan. His military exploits are outstanding and his prestige is enough to intimidate the entire army
As for Master Jiang Dongjiang, he should be on par with Master Liu in terms of strategy, but the difference is in the skill of riding and shooting.
Governor Ji Liao is defending the capital city. If he doesn't even dare to go to the battlefield, he will only strategize in the rear, and it may be difficult to inspire the soldiers to use their lives.
Yang Xuan is a good example. The Tatars went north and he went south. Compared with Lord Liu shooting the bandit chieftain, it is clear which one is better. "
"To be honest, Your Majesty, the teacher must have something to say, but the biggest problem now is that Yang Bo intends to let Jiangdong take over as Ji Liao. He means that Mr. Liu has just returned not long ago, and he is afraid of the Tatars. It's already a bit unfamiliar, so it's best to patrol the border first and get used to it for a while before making arrangements. "
Zhang Juzheng said.
"Xu Ge Lao can't convince Yang Shangshu, so we might as well add King Yu. I think if both sides support Mr. Liu to be the governor of Jiliao, Yang Shangshu will think about it carefully."
Wei Guangde still said with a smile. .
"Is there a way for Shandai to get King Yu to express his position?"
Zhang Juzheng asked suspiciously, then he cupped his hands and said: "To be honest, I have mentioned this matter to King Yu in private. , But King Yu, as you said, both Xu Ge Lao and Yang Shangshu are supportive of Prince Yu's palace, and he thinks it is inappropriate to support anyone."
"So, Prince Yu rejected your request? ”
Wei Guangde answered and asked.
“That’s right.”
Zhang Juzheng didn’t hide anything, and nodded immediately.
"I will ask to see King Yu later to talk about the matter and see if there is any room for change."
Wei Guangde said immediately.
"Then we have Lao Shan Loan to help."
Although Zhang Juzheng had already guessed that Wei Guangde did this because it was unprofitable and he couldn't afford it early, but now he doesn't know the real reason why Wei Guangde did this. Naturally, we should treat each other with courtesy.
It is difficult to say that the conflict between Wei Guangde and Jiang Dong is enough for him to deal with it at the expense of his face.
At the very least, Zhang Juzheng really didn’t know why Wei Guangde and Jiangdong were at odds with each other.
If you don’t know the reason, you won’t be able to make an accurate judgment.
"By the way, I have one more thing today, and I would like to hear your uncle's opinion."
Wei Guangde changed the subject and said.
“What’s the matter?”
Zhang Juzheng asked curiously.
"This matter is of great importance, please keep it secret."
Therefore, Wei Guangde told Zhang Juzheng about Ma Fang's plan to attack the North Beach of Mongolia after he led his troops back to Xuanfu.
"What do you mean, Ma Fang received a secret report that Anda Khan's tent was erected on the North Beach?"
Zhang Juzheng asked with a frown.
"It should be that he said that this sneak attack was intended to severely damage the main force of Anda Khan. If he was not in Beishandang, how could he seriously damage it?" Wei Guangde replied seriously.
"If the news is true, with the talent of General Ma, as long as he arranges carefully, he can win a great victory."
Zhang Juzheng rubbed his hands and said, but seeing Wei Guangde's serious expression, he asked strangely: " Shanda, this is a good thing, why are you frowning?”
“When I first learned about this, You and I are no different."
Wei Guangde lowered his head as he spoke, then looked up at Zhang Juzheng and said, "But in this sneak attack, the Tatar Huang Taiji had just entered the capital, and he rushed to the North Beach without stopping. , I always feel a little uneasy.”
“Why?”
Zhang Juzheng was still suspicious and couldn't figure out what Wei Guangde had to worry about.
“I checked the court documents about Anda Khan and found that he had extraordinary strategies, especially in the battles to defeat Uliangha and conquer Qinghai Yiyi, he showed amazing ability to predict.
Even if he threatened the capital more than ten years ago, it was not a random act on his part. It should be an astonishing move after careful consideration. ”
Wei Guangde shook his head, "I feel that I have raised him too high, but this person is indeed extraordinary, otherwise he would never be able to unify the prairie, which would be a serious problem for the Ming Dynasty.
So , I am worried that Huang Taiji’s reversal in the final stage of this battle will alert him that the combat effectiveness of our Ming army in Xuanda Town is increasing.”
In the past, the Mongolian tribes only expressed harmony, but in fact they were in a state of disintegration, so they did not gather all their strength every time they went south.
Before Anda Khan showed up, his brother Ji Nang only had 30,000 households, and he dared to ravage Xuanfu, Datong, Liangzhou and other places, and he had to guard against tribes such as Yibula and Buerhai.
Now, the surrounding tribes have surrendered to Ada Khan. He has huge power and can mobilize huge Mongolian troops.
A raid like Ma Fang's often does not gather a large army, but only takes away more than 10,000 elites, so that they can quickly rush in and carry out the raid.
Although Ma Fang has fewer troops than Anda Khan, if he is commanded properly, he can take advantage of the enemy's chaos and take advantage of the situation to make an unparalleled contribution.
However, such sneak attacks also carry huge risks, that is, if they are detected or predicted by the enemy, they are often trapped and difficult to escape.
What Wei Guangde was afraid of was that Anda Khan would be alerted by the battle at Huang Taiji. If so, he would ambush Ma Fang in the middle of the road, and the outcome would be unpredictable.
"The people who made great contributions this time are the Xuanda troops. Now that the two troops have returned to their base together, will Datong Jiang Yingxiong's troops also participate in this sneak attack?"
Zhang Juzheng suddenly interrupted and asked.
“No, if we contact the Datong Army, there is a risk of the news being leaked.
The Xuanfu Army has been under his command for many years and has been completely controlled by him, so he naturally knows what to do to keep it secret.
The Datong Army has no understanding of it and is difficult to command. Ma Fang will never unite with Datong to march together. "
Wei Guangde shook his head directly.
"Then what do you mean? Do you want to stop it?
Zhang Juzheng is still very strange and does not understand Wei Guangde’s true intention.
"On Ma Fang's side, if my guess is correct, I'm afraid he has led his troops to the foot of the Xuanfu Great Wall by now and will sneak out of the pass at any time."
Wei Guangde knew that if such a plan was to be implemented, The most important thing is what is happening outside the Xuanfu Great Wall at this time.
If Tatar scouts appear, Ma Fang may directly cancel the invasion plan.
In other words, Ma Fang will only consider feasibility, but whether to implement it in the end depends on the situation and the specific situation.
However, there is no need to talk about these details to Zhang Juzheng.
"Since we can't control it, why not find a way to remedy it?"
Zhang Juzheng said at this time.
"What? Remedy?"
Wei Guangde wondered.
“Since General Ma has sent troops, and Shandai is worried, it is better to think of ways to see how to reverse the defeat if General Ma is really defeated, such as sending generals to lead troops in the name of patrolling the border. Enter the Xuan Mansion, inquire about the news, and send troops to rescue immediately if something happens.”
Zhang Juzheng said, "It depends on Shandai's opinion on what possible situations may arise if General Ma's troops are actually detected by Ada Khan. We may as well prescribe the right medicine and find a solution."
"Ma Fang Hui led his troops to attack. In the past, he always took the lead in fortresses."< br>
Speaking of this, Wei Guangde suddenly realized a problem, that is, after Ma Fang left the fortress, Dong Yikui temporarily took over the defense of Xuanfu, but now Dong Yikui has been transferred to Shanxi as the commander-in-chief, and Ma Fang does not know that this time After leaving Xuanfu, what were the arrangements for the rear?
However, this is not important.
Because Wei Guangde had already thought of Zhang Juzheng's suggestion just now, an idea was swirling in Wei Guangde's mind.
Let Dong Yikui, as the commander-in-chief of Shanxi, bring Shanxi soldiers and horses to patrol Xuanfu. If Ma Fang's tribe really encounters trouble, let Dong Yikui lead the rescue, and if successful, he will be responsible for returning him.
But at this time, Zhang Juzheng was minding his own business and said: "If Ma Fang's tribe is detected by Anda Khan, there are three possible ways.
One is to lead his troops to flee directly, but The probability of this is extremely small. The second is to set up an ambush with the intention of severely damaging or even annihilating Ma Fang's tribe. The third is"
"What is it?"
Wei Guangde asked.
"Bypass Ma Fang's troops and attack the empty Xuan Mansion."
Zhang Juzheng said.
"His"
Wei Guangde took a breath of cold air. If Anda Khan adopts the third method of attack mentioned by Zhang Juzheng, he can not only rob countless supplies, but also Ma Fang. Forced to a dead end.
Just kidding, the emperor asked you to guard the Xuan Mansion, but you lost your nest.
It is hard to say that the sword was not struck by An Dahan, but by Emperor Jiajing.
“Which one do you choose?”
Zhang Juzheng asked suddenly.
“Third.”
Wei Guangde replied subconsciously.
"So, we should first think of ways to make up for the lack of troops in the Xuanfu. Ma Fang takes away the elites of the Xuanfu. Once the Tatars suddenly arrive, we may not even be able to draw out the rescue troops.
By then, the entire Xuanfu will be affected. If the government is full of loopholes and passive, there is a possibility of being cooked by the Tatars, which will really kill Ma Fang."
Zhang Juzheng said, stroking his beautiful beard, but there was something in his eyes. A hint of cruelty.
Wei Guangde had never seen this look in Zhang Juzheng’s eyes before.
For the first time, Wei Guangde looked at him with admiration. He seemed very scary when he was ruthless.
Moreover, Wei Guangde also heard from Zhang Juzheng's words just now that Zhang Juzheng actually had a lot of ideas.
Perhaps, he is just not interested in the military.
Indeed, the path Xu Jie arranged for him was not to become a military and civilian official, but to support him towards the throne of chief minister.
Having some concerns in mind, Wei Guangde sat here for a while, looked at the time, and asked the chamberlain to go in and ask about King Yu's situation.
(End of this chapter)