Hearing Shi Xing's conclusion, Zhu Yijun was stunned.
He knew the name of Chai Guozhu. He was the Zongbing of Ji Town. He dared to fight, and it was a good job to assign him to Ji Town, the gateway to the capital. However, he did not have many achievements and was mostly a deputy general. He had no experience in commanding large battles and was not qualified to be a partner, but he could be a deputy general.
As for Li Chengliang …
He had enough experience and qualifications, and his achievements were brilliant, but … he was not reliable.
Zhu Yijun did not trust Li Chengliang from the bottom of his heart.
Zhao Zhigao and Shen Li were also stunned, and suddenly remembered there was such a person.
He was a famous general in Liaodong in the Jiajing and Longqing years. He was awarded with titles for his military achievements and was in the limelight for a while. However, because of corruption and the death of Zhang Juzheng, his status was affected and he was deprived of his power as the Zongbing of Liaodong. He was kept in the capital and had no sense of existence, although he was active.
However, after Xiao Ruxun came out, he was so famous that he directly overshadowed Li Chengliang's limelight, and there was no news about him.
But this old fellow was indeed still alive and well. He was seventy years old this year, and his body was in excellent condition. He was full of vigor, and he ate well. When he got on a horse, he could even majestically walk a few laps. He looked quite like a rich man.
If one were to talk about the generals with the most experience and achievements in the Great Ming Dynasty, Li Chengliang was definitely number one. Having been in the army for 50 years, there really wasn't a single general in the Great Ming Dynasty who could compare to him in terms of experience. Xiao Ruxun's achievements were indeed dazzling, but she was still very young!
Moreover, Li Chengliang was in the capital, and he could enter the palace as soon as he called. Xiao Ruxun was far away in Myanmar. Who knew when he would come? Therefore, it was better to choose a close one.
Zhu Yijun thought about it and felt that although Li Chengliang was not a pure minister, he was old and should be more mature. Some of his previous problems should be gone now.
His son was still in Liaodong. If they went to the battlefield together this time, it would be a wonderful story for father and son to go to war together.
So, why not give it a try?
In fact, there was no better choice. The other dukes, marquises, and earls were just a bunch of pigs that knew how to fish for money. They had been reared by the civil officials until there was nothing left of them. What else could they do?
Zhu Yijun thought about it helplessly and agreed to Shi Xing's suggestion.
Then there was another important question.
"Can the national treasury bear the military expenses for this expedition?"
Shi Xing was stunned, and so were the two assistants.
"I'm asking you a question! Where's the silver from the national treasury? "
Previously, when Xiao Ruxun asked for a hundred thousand taels of silver to send troops to the Philippines, these people were crying about being poor. Now, they needed more than a hundred thousand taels of silver. In order to prevent these rats from attacking his own treasury, Zhu Yijun decided to strike first.
Seeing that the emperor seemed to want to take the opportunity to attack the national treasury, the three people who knew the inside story could cooperate with each other without colluding in advance.
"Your Majesty, I will go to the Ministry of Revenue to verify this matter. There should be some silver left."
Zhao Zhigao said quickly.
"Your Majesty, the compensation from Japan has been sent to the national treasury. This time, it depends on the specific situation to determine how many troops to send. It is really not clear whether we can afford it."
Shi Xing quickly echoed.
"Your Majesty, please hold an imperial conference immediately to discuss the strategy to repel the enemy!"
Shen Li also answered quickly.
When it came to this matter that was very likely to ruin everyone's fate and future, all the civil officials were very firm.
The affairs of the national treasury and the accounts must not be in the hands of the emperor. Otherwise, the emperor would really flip the table in anger and ask the East Faction Guards and the Imperial Bodyguard to dig up everyone's ancestral graves to snatch the silver back. At that time, not only would the Daming Imperial Court be in chaos, but the lives of their families would also be in danger.
No one knew better than the civil officials how the national treasury was controlled and emptied bit by bit by the civil officials. The specific situation of the national treasury must not be known to the emperor. They must not let him know about the strange movements of the silver. Otherwise, how could this fragile balance be maintained?
In the end, Zhu Yijun did not speculate on people's hearts so darkly. He felt that in the face of a national crisis, every official should have some urgency. Therefore, for the time being, he did not pursue the matter. He asked them to prepare for the imperial military conference as soon as possible, especially to let Li Chengliang be present. He wanted to see if Li Chengliang could still go to the battlefield.
At that time, Lian Po could still eat meat when he was eighty, and Li Chengliang could still eat when he was seventy.
Li Chengliang never thought that this good thing would fall on his head. After so many years of unemployment in the capital, although he had never given up the hope of a comeback, this hope was diminishing day by day, almost to the point where it could not be maintained.
On the one hand, he was slowly aging. Looking at his weak body and declining spirit, he felt the ruthlessness of time. On the other hand, Li Rusong succeeded in taking over his position, maintaining the status of the Li family, and Liaodong was still under the control of the Li family. This was something to be gratified.
In this case, he simply stayed in Beijing and let the emperor and the civil officials rest assured. As long as his son could still persist and continue, what was wrong with it?
The only thing he was dissatisfied with was that time had no heroes. He actually let that brat Xiao Ruxun become famous, and even suppressed him by a head, becoming a Marquis. Moreover, it was a hereditary title of Marquis Zhennan. Although the fief was far away, this was also something he had always been pursuing. Back then, he almost succeeded in suppressing Liaodong.
Right now, all he could see was an old and decrepit old man.
When the inner official arrived at the Li Residence, Li Chengliang was reminiscing about the past and lamenting the present. When he heard the servant report that someone from the palace had come, Li Chengliang was still a little dazed. When he finally came to his senses, he was so anxious that he didn't even stand up.
"Hurry and help me up!"
Li Chengliang angrily scolded the servant beside him who had no discernment. The servant hurriedly stepped forward to support Li Chengliang. Li Chengliang came to the living room and saw the internal official whom he had not seen for a long time.
"My dear sir, you'd better hurry up and get ready! His Majesty is urgently summoning you! "
Li Chengliang froze.
"His Majesty is summoning me?"
"Yes! Something has happened in Datong. The Northern Barbarians have invaded the borders. His Majesty is planning to summon you to discuss military affairs. He plans to appoint you to defend against the Northern Barbarians! "
Li Chengliang only reacted after the inner official finished speaking. Then, the joy in his heart almost broke through the horizon.
"Let me change my clothes!"
After a while, Li Chengliang was finally able to speak.
Back in the inner room, Li Chengliang immediately asked the servant to help him change his clothes. As he changed, Li Chengliang's face was filled with ecstasy.
It's been so many years, so many years! I've finally waited for this day! I've finally waited for this day! A general can only shine on the battlefield. If there's no war, what's the use of having a general? Only war is my stage!
Li Chengliang was glad that he didn't completely waste his body. He didn't indulge in wine and women. He still persisted in practicing martial arts and maintained his health. Don't be fooled by the fact that he was seventy years old. He was still as vigorous as a tiger when riding a horse and wielding a sword. He wasn't any weaker than those weak young scholars.
Opportunities were always given to those who were prepared. Li Chengliang could be said to have experienced this deeply.
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