On the third day of the second month of the first year of Longwu, the sky was clear and the wind was chilly. It was bone-chilling cold in Beijing.
In the Duke of Wei Residence in the inner city, Duke of Wei Xu Hongji was entertaining the new Duke of Cheng, Zhu Yinghuai.
After Xiao Ruxun officially ascended the throne, Zhu Yinghuai had always wanted to take back the title of Duke of Cheng. However, during the coronation ceremony, Xiao Ruxun did not bestow the title of Duke of Cheng to him. Later, Zhu Yinghuai and his family thought that the money might be too little, so they used the excuse of repairing the Imperial Palace to offer three hundred thousand taels of silver to Xiao Ruxun.
Xiao Ruxun was very pleased and returned the title of Duke of Cheng to the Zhu family on the spot, allowing Zhu Yinghuai to inherit the title of Duke of Cheng as a reward.
Thus, the newly promoted Duke of Cheng, Zhu Yinghuai, made a dazzling appearance. Not only that, he was also given the position of Commander-In-Chief of the rear army and became a high-ranking officer in the capital. He was also in charge of a troop in the capital. For a time, he was limitless and was about to become a favorite subject of the new dynasty and become a legend.
However, after a few days of glory, when Zhu Yinghuai went to work in the Commander-In-Chief of the rear army, he found that he did not have much to do. Rather than saying that Xiao Ruxun continued the Ming system and reestablished the Commander-In-Chief of the Five Armies, it was more accurate to say that it was just a decoration.
There were only a dozen or so clerks organizing documents. When he, the great Commander-In-Chief, went to work, he could not find many subordinates. He had to be escorted by the guards at the door to find his office. Then, he sat in his office for a day, and only a guard brought him tea and refreshments.
Just like that, he could get off work. Nothing happened. The Commander-In-Chief's office was cold and quiet. Those who did not know would think that it was the Cold Palace.
In the past, although the Commander-In-Chief of the Five Armies did not have any real power, it at least had a facade and had people in various positions. Now, he was the only Commander-In-Chief and had no subordinates. What did this mean?
Moreover, not only did he not have subordinates, he did not even see many soldiers. In name, he was in charge of all the garrison stations around the capital, but in reality, he did not know whether there were any garrison stations around the capital or where the capital soldiers were.
Could it be that the new emperor was playing a game of grafting?
With this doubt, Zhu Yinghuai went to visit Xu Hongji. Xu Hongji had been with Xiao Ruxun since Nanjing and followed him on the northern expedition, so their relationship should be closer.
Moreover, in the capital, there were only two dukes from the former Ming dynasty, as well as the Duke of Guizhou in Yunnan. Other than this, Xiao Ruxun had not conferred any other dukes. Even the most senior general in the army, Zhao Hu, had only been conferred the title of Marquis of Pinglu. As the only remaining dukes in the two families, it was only right for them to get closer.
Compared to Zhu Yinghuai's anxiety, Xu Hongji was clearly much calmer.
Their family peacefully passed their days in the capital. Xu Hongji warmed himself by the fire and ate some pastries while leaning against something that looked like a chair yet wasn't a chair, like a bed yet wasn't a bed. He was clearly very happy and content.
"Oh my, the days in the capital are quite comfortable. I don't have to worry about food or drink, but the weather is too cold. I'm not used to it."
Xu Hongji smiled and sent the pastries into his mouth. "Mmm, delicious! Duke Chenggong, come and have a taste. This is a green bean cake bestowed by His Majesty. It's said that it's a new pastry made by someone in Myanmar. It's sweet and glutinous. When you eat it with tea, it's better than living as an immortal! Hahahaha! "
Zhu Yinghuai was a little depressed.
"I say, Duke Wei, why are you so … so comfortable? What … what is this? A chair is not a chair, and a bed is not a bed. "
"This? Come, come, Duke Chenggong, let's lie down together. This is called a recliner, also bestowed by His Majesty. It's very comfortable. It's the most convenient place to take a nap, hahaha! "
Xu Hongji's happy expression made Zhu Yinghuai's eyebrows twitch.
"Duke Wei, why are you … I say, Duke Wei, it's been a month since the new dynasty was established. The capital has settled down, and many people have started to work. I often see many officials so busy that they walk like they're running. His Majesty attends court every day, from noon to night. How come we have nothing to do? I've been in the military governor's office for several days. From morning to night, other than a servant who serves me tea, there's no one else. There's not even a shadow of a soldier in the capital. What's the meaning of this? "
Xu Hongji looked at Zhu Yinghuai. "Duke Chenggong, are you pretending to be stupid or are you really stupid? His Majesty wants me to be in charge of the capital camp, so I'll really be in charge of it? His Majesty wants you to be in charge of the capital guards, so you'll really be in charge of the capital guards and hold military power? "
"This …"
Zhu Yinghuai was not a fool. He whispered, "His Majesty was born as a military general. He should understand the consequences of using civil and military power. Does he still want to continue using civil and military power and not give the military governor's office real power?"
"Even if he gives real power, it won't be given to you and me."
Xu Hongji shook his head. "We're just used by His Majesty to put on a show. Do you really think it's true? You still want to go to the military governor's office? Not to mention the military governor's office, I think even the capital camp will be dismissed. His Majesty has his own army. Why would he need the capital camp? Keeping those useless people is just a waste of food. It's better to use them as coolies. "
"Ah? You still want to put on a show? "
Zhu Yinghuai's face was bitter. "We're not going against His Majesty. You've been with His Majesty since Nanjing. Our family was almost killed by Shen Yicheng. How can it be considered as defecting to the enemy? Continue to put on a show. This … Wang Xijue and Li Tingji have real power. They go to court every day. "
"That's them, not you and me. They have real skills and know how to govern the country. What about you and me? Have you really led troops to fight in a war? His Majesty has a bunch of generals who can fight. How can it be our turn? It's good enough to keep your title. Just live a stable life! "
Xu Hongji took another piece of mung bean cake and stuffed it into his mouth.
Zhu Yinghuai was depressed for a while.
"Five hundred thousand taels of silver. I thought we could get something good, but the result is the same."
"It's still the same. It's good enough to keep your title. Don't think about those unnecessary things. We're nobles of the previous dynasty. We don't have any military achievements. Why should we let you lead troops? Be honest and don't think too much. "
Xu Hongji was also a little impatient. He waved his hand and didn't want to say more.
"But I don't understand. Zhao Shiqing and Tsai Kuo-chen are Shen Yicheng's people. Why are they kept? Moreover, it's the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Personnel. Is it because they each donated more than a hundred thousand taels of silver? Isn't the appointment of new officials a little too casual? "
Hearing Zhu Yinghuai's words, a trace of worry flashed in Xu Hongji's eyes, but he didn't say it in the end.
"Don't think too much about it. Tidy things up. Tomorrow is the day the generals of the northwest return to court. A new round of military appointments is about to begin. We might have to attend."
Zhu Yinghuai nodded. "I heard that Li Chengliang is about to arrive. This time, the Li Clan has really paid a heavy price. Moving the entire clan out of Liaodong is the same as crippling their own foundation. How did Li Chengliang get so gutsy this time?"
"What else? What else does he want? His Majesty's army of two hundred thousand was in the capital, a peerless elite force. If the Li Clan showed the slightest sign that something was amiss, these two hundred thousand soldiers would be enough to pulverize them. If they had any brains, they would not have opposed His Majesty. Coming to the capital to enjoy glory and wealth was the best choice.
This time, Li Chengliang was made Marquis of Resolute and Courageous, Li Rusong is also a Marquis, and Li Ruzhang is also a Marquis. The Li Clan has three Marquises. This is even more glorious than being in Daming. It's worth it, truly worth it. "
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