Yang Ling arrived at the palace gate. The sedan bearers and four imperial bodyguards went to the side to take shelter from the wind, basking in the warm sun to rest. Yang Ling lived too far away and usually entered the city on horseback. Right now, of the two bandit leaders, one had escaped and the other was not sure if he was still hiding in the capital. Yang Ling did not dare to be careless for fear of being shot by a cold arrow.
The luxurious semi-reclining soft seats of this large sedan had been removed and arranged into two rows. In the front row facing the window curtain of the sedan sat Wu Hanchao, dressed in the same style as him, while Yang Ling sat in the back. From the outside, there was absolutely nothing suspicious about this.
Yang Ling was a frequent visitor to the palace. Although the imperial bodyguards on duty changed every three days, they all recognized this daren. The Meridian Gate General took the tile and glanced at it. With a face full of smiles, he returned the tile to Yang Ling with both hands.
Yang Ling put the tile back into his bosom and asked: "His Majesty has not left the court yet?"
The Meridian Gate General smiled: "Yes, daren. This lowly official is standing guard at the palace gate. The other daren have not left the palace yet."
Yang Ling nodded his head. He did not cross the Golden Water Bridge but went around the Hall of Supreme Harmony from the side. At this time, the bells and drums sounded together and the hundred officials left the court. Yang Ling stood under the pillar of a pavilion, waiting for the hundred civil and military officials to leave. The Emperor's ceremonial guards walked toward the rear hall. It was not until the yellow umbrella canopy could no longer be seen that he continued to walk toward the middle hall.
Walking to the front of the Canopy Hall, he saw two daren angrily coming out of the hall gate and came face to face with Yang Ling. Yang Ling saw that it was the great scholar Wang Yan and Zhan Shi Yang Fang who had passed the Sanyuan examination. Somewhat surprised, he stopped and cupped his hands in salute to them.
After Liu Jin demoted Liu Jian and Xie Qian, Yang Fang was so angry that she took sick leave and returned to her hometown. She had not been in the capital for some time. Seeing him today for the first time, although they had never gotten along, Yang Ling still treated him with courtesy.
Yang Fang was old but firm. Although she knew that Yang Ling's current position had not changed, his power was enormous and could almost influence the imperial court's politics. She did not look sideways and brushed past him.
Wang Yan's impression of Yang Ling had changed greatly. Especially last time when the hundred officials knelt in the Palace on a snowy night, when Yang Ling persuaded the Emperor to take back the list of traitors, and when the retired Yang Yiqing and the imprisoned Wang Shouren took command of the troops, her impression of him was even better. Seeing Yang Ling salute her, she hastily halted her steps and hastily returned the salute. "Mr. Yang need not be so courteous," she said, "Yang Zhan Shi and Grand Secretary Li had an argument and left in anger. Wang, please go and mediate."
Wang Yan and Yang Fang had always been on good terms with Li Dongyang. Yang Ling did not know what kind of argument they had. Hastily he smiled and said, "Lord Wang, please do as you wish." Wang Yan let out a bitter laugh. Lifting the hem of her gown, she hurriedly chased after Yang Fang. Yang Ling was startled for a moment, and then he turned around and walked into the Canopy Hall.
Seeing Yang Ling had come in, the little servant was about to salute loudly when Yang Ling waved his hand to stop him. Lifting the thick sheepskin blanket curtain, he walked into the warm room on the right. He saw Li Dongyang sitting on a chair, holding a brush and reading the memorials to the throne.
Seeing Yang Ling come in, Li Dongyang busily put down his brush and stood up. "Mr. Yang," he said with a smile, "How come you have time to pay a visit today? Quickly, please sit down. "
Yang Ling laughed, "Daren does not need to do anything." As he said this, he went to pull out a chair and sat down at the desk. Li Dongyang called for someone to serve him a cup of hot tea. Sitting down, he said, "I was shocked to hear that last night a large group of bandits openly armed went to your residence to wreak havoc. The Ministry of Punishments's report is not very detailed. Daren, do you have the details?"
Yang Ling said, "Although the captured bandits are not afraid of death, the Factory Guards' torture cannot be withstood by flesh and blood. They had no choice but to confess. According to the bandits' confession, their leader, the great bandit Yang Hu, did indeed have the intention to rebel. But this night's attack on my residence seems to be an impromptu idea. As for why they gathered so many people to quietly arrive in the capital, the bandits do not know the details."
Li Dongyang frowned and nodded slightly, saying, "I have carefully read the official document from the Ministry of Punishments. If they said that they came for Sir Yang, it does not make sense, and there is no need for them to use the name Yang Fu to recruit you. It seems that it was indeed an impromptu idea and a change of plan. What was their original purpose in entering the capital? This is a difficult question to answer."
Yang Ling smiled and said, "At this time, let the Ministry of Punishments and the Bazhou government investigate. The foolish people believe in some false words and think that they are the Emperor. Now that the court has issued a warrant for their arrest, I believe they will not be able to play any tricks.
Didn't someone in Henan's Mianchi Village regard himself as the Emperor? Half of the people in the village are Prime Ministers and ministers? Even a ten-year-old child has been given the title of General of the Palace. Didn't they only get discovered by the court after more than 20 years? When the Former Emperor heard the news, he only laughed it off and did not punish a single one of those foolish people. "
Li Dongyang looked at him meaningfully and stroked his beard, saying, "Sir Yang seems to have the intention of forgiving and understanding these rebellious bandits?"
He shook his head and said, "A thousand-mile dike can collapse because of an ant hole; a hundred-foot room can be burned by smoke from a sudden crack. Yang Hu cannot be compared to those foolish people. He has contacted the Lulin Bandits of the Three Mountains and Five Peaks to plot a rebellion. He even attacked and killed important ministers of the court under the feet of the Emperor. It can be seen that he is ferocious. Once there is a rebellion, the disaster will be severe. "
Yang Ling nodded and said, "You are right, sir. However, the root of the bandits is the maladministration of the court. Otherwise, if Yang Hu is gone today, there will be Zhang Hu and Li Hu tomorrow.
The Former Emperor ruled the country for more than ten years and was a wise and virtuous ruler rarely seen in history. However, these years there have been continuous natural disasters. There are often floods here and there, thousands of miles of barren land there. In addition, there are some cruel and corrupt officials who do not sympathize with the people. The people are short of food and clothing. They do not care if the court is upright or muddle-headed. Once they are bewitched by people, it is inevitable that there will be chaos. "
He raised his cup and drank a mouthful of tea before continuing, "The crops from the Southeast that I have introduced can increase the output of Ming Destiny's food production by several times. It can help countless people. I think that Yang Hu suddenly wanted to murder me because of the seedlings in the warm cellar. In the beginning, he may have been forced to be a thief. Now that the bandits are flourishing, their greed has increased and they have the intention to spy on the country's weapons. Naturally, they will resort to unscrupulous means."
Li Dongyang laughed and said, "I have heard about the crops from the Southeast that you have recommended and have sent people to the Southeast to investigate. The crops are indeed very productive. Although I do not know if the Northeast and Northwest are suitable for planting, the large area of Jiangnan is definitely not a problem."
Yang Ling's face lit up and he hurriedly said, "Have you investigated, Your Excellency? I am not lying. Dry and cold places are also suitable for planting. After planting in spring, we will know the clues. However, this can only fill the stomachs of the people. To enrich the people and strengthen the country, it is imperative to lift the ban on the sea.
The coastal people make up at least a quarter of the people of Ming Destiny. Those places have three mountains, six rivers, and a piece of farmland. The land is narrow and the population is sparse. There is not a lot of grain. The coastal people all live in boats and the sea is their farmland. Under the ban on the sea, the livelihood of the people is bleak and the bandits are growing.
Lifting the ban on trade not only enriches the people and fills the national treasury, but also strengthens the communication with the countries overseas. The foreigners have their strengths and we have our weaknesses. We can learn from each other's strengths to make up for our weaknesses. This is the only way to broaden the horizons and knowledge of the people of Ming Destiny, expand the territory of the imperial court, strengthen the army, and dominate the world. Even building a cart behind closed doors will not work, let alone such a big country. "
Li Dongyang nodded his head and said, "I have sent people to investigate the coastal situation. In the past, there was a saying: 'The source of evil is like a rat's hole. You must leave one. If you fill it up, it will break through everywhere.' Lifting the ban on trade also has its disadvantages. But governing is about abandoning harm for benefit. It is not wise to give up eating because of choking. "
He raised his eyes and smiled, "I have actually been thinking for many days. I am willing to support Mr Yang's policy of lifting the ban on the sea and opening trade with foreign countries. However, in my opinion, there are two points that need to be discussed. First, the officials of the imperial court are not easy to convince. Second, if we lift the ban now, we will lose sight of the other. The pirates have not yet …"
Yang Ling excitedly said, "The first is not difficult. As long as Grand Secretary Li agrees, the rest can be handled by me. As for the second point, Your Excellency is right. I think we can first reopen the ports in Ningbo and Guangzhou, and then open another port in Tianjin. Together with the original port in Quanzhou, there will be a total of four ports.
Tianjin will be connected to Korea, Russia, Ningbo will be connected to Japan, Quanzhou will be connected to Ryukyu, Guangzhou will be connected to Zhancheng, Siam and the western countries. Then the Ministry of Punishments, Ministry of Rites and Ministry of Revenue will set up a government office to manage the laws, lawsuits, taxes and trade between China and foreign countries. Does Your Excellency think this is feasible? "
Li Dongyang's only worry was that Yang Ling would be arbitrary and monopolize the power of trade. Hearing him say this, he could not help but be surprised. Yang Ling had racked his brains to lift the ban on trade, but he did not get any benefits and did not have any power?
Li Dongyang hesitated for a moment and asked, "Mr Yang is the one who initiated this. Once the ban is lifted, won't the Ministry of Internal Affairs be involved?"
Yang Ling laughed in his heart. This old official did not care at all about bureaucratic talk. It seemed that he was a practical person. As soon as the ban on trade was lifted, Yang Ling's carriages and horses throughout the country would be the largest transport department that controlled the silver flow. It would not be an exaggeration to say that he raked in gold every day.
Yang Ling also controlled the power of the Tax Bureau. At that time, who knows how many people would want to shoot arrows from the back. They were jealous of his benefits. Even the Eight Tigers, who were determined to stand on the same side as him, could not be certain that they would not be disloyal in the long run. Yang Ling had long had the intention to get rid of the Tax Bureau.
Yang Ling said with a smile, "Because the maritime trade has many dealings with foreign countries, we can have the Ministry of Punishments to settle lawsuits, the Imperial Bodyguard to investigate and arrest illegal peddlers. The Tax Bureau and the Ministry of Revenue's Tax Bureau will share responsibilities. The Tax Bureau will collect taxes, the Tax Bureau will supervise taxes, or vice versa. We can issue orders from one government office and mutually restrict each other. This will prevent the various government offices from acting on their own and coming up with all sorts of excuses, so that the common people will not suffer unspeakably."
Li Dongyang smiled cheerfully and said, "It seems that Sir Yang has thought it over carefully and has a well-thought-out plan. Very good. When do you think it would be appropriate to propose this to His Majesty?"
Yang Ling calculated for a moment. The horse scouts investigating the officials in the court with the background of the coastal landowning families and the landowning gentry had not yet sent back complete information. The war in the north was urgent, so it was not the right time to propose a new policy. Thereupon he said, "I think it would be better to wait until the war in the north has calmed down. Only then will the court be able to go all out and properly handle this important matter. How about … February next year?"
With a smile on his face, Li Dongyang nodded. Yang Ling's heart was at ease. He placed the teacup on the table, and only then did he notice that there was a painting spread out on the table. If it was an official document that Li Dongyang was dealing with, it would be inconvenient for him to look at it, but a painting was nothing. Yang Ling turned the painting around. In the painting, he saw an ugly old woman riding on a water buffalo, immensely pleased with herself as she played the flute horizontally. On the old woman's forehead was a line of small characters, 'This is Li Xiya Xiang Ye.'
Xiya was Li Dongyang's nickname; who would be so audacious as to insult him to such an extreme extent? Yang Ling was startled; he did not have time to look further. He asked in bewilderment, "This … who is so rude as to dare to paint and insult Daren?"
Li Dongyang smiled faintly and said, "Yang Fang was only joking with this old man, it's not a big deal, he-he."
Yang Ling remembered how Yang Fang left in a rage earlier; he thoughtfully lowered his head to look at the painting again. The painting was not new, but the ink on the poem next to the painting had not dried yet; it was obvious that it had just been written not long ago. The quatrain was bold and flamboyant, it read: Concubine Yang died at Mawei, leaving the fortress, Zhao Jun's resentment was great. Fighting like a granny riding on a cow's back, the spring wind was like a song of peace.
The title was also 'Xiya', presumably it was the poem that Li Dongyang had just written on the painting. The poem was quite magnanimous; it did not pay any attention to the insinuations in the painting that he lived like a corpse eating a common position and bowing his head to a sycophant. On the contrary, it was a unique and unique view. After Yang Ling finished reading the scroll, he stood up and respectfully bowed to Li Dongyang with cupped fists.
Li Dongyang was surprised and asked, "What is the meaning of this, Mister Yang?"
Yang Ling said, "The Grand Scholar is of noble character and unquestionable integrity, broad-mindedness and magnanimity, Yang Ling is endlessly impressed. This painting was drawn by the gifted scholar Yang Fang, and the Grand Secretary Li wrote a poem on it. After reading it, Yang Ling was deeply moved. The innocent are innocent, the corrupted are corrupted. I ask the Grand Scholar to bestow this painting to me. I am willing to serve you, for the sake of Ming Destiny, for the sake of the people, why should I be afraid of gossip?"
A strange light flashed in Li Dongyang's eyes. Last time when Yang Ling came to visit him, he went straight to the point and criticized the Eight Tigers for their wrongdoings. He had secretly suspected that Yang Ling's actions were just feigning civility with the Eight Tigers, borrowing the strength of the Eight Tigers to realize his ambitions. Looking at his behavior today and listening to the meaning behind his words, it was obvious that he was a kindred spirit. What worried Li Dongyang was that the Eight Tigers were too powerful and the Emperor was too playful. It would be difficult for him to control such a big empire by himself. If Yang Ling was really a kindred spirit, then what was there to worry about?
Li Dongyang said cheerfully, "It's just a painting. If Mister Yang appreciates it, please feel free to take it."
Yang Ling rolled up the painting and carefully put it in his pocket. He sat down and said, "Just now Mister Yang left angrily, and then left a painting to mock me. What was that for?"
Li Dongyang helplessly said, "Ever since Liu Gonggong took charge of the internal court, some of the high-ranking officials in the imperial court were deeply dissatisfied. One after another, they claimed illness and refused to go to the yamen to do their work. As a result, many yamens had official positions, but no one was in charge, and official cases piled up like a mountain.
In addition, the war in the north was intense. Conscription, transportation, war affairs, compensation for the sick, food supplies, transfer of troops, all involved many yamens. The officials in charge were not around, the government orders were not effective, and many important matters were delayed.
Liu Gonggong flew into a rage and issued an order: officials who were unable to do their work because of illness for more than a month would be exempted from their monthly salary; those who were sick for more than a year would be demoted to an idle position; those who were sick for more than three years would be removed from their official position and would never be employed again.
These officials had no choice but to return to the yamen to do their work. Liu Gonggong's anger had not yet subsided, so he asked for an imperial edict, saying that the civil officials were bestowing too many titles. In the future, those who did not have outstanding military service and outstanding political achievements would not be bestowed titles. Mister Yang had just returned to the yamen, and when he heard the news of the civil officials, he flew into a rage and came to find me to reason with him. In the end … alas! "
Hearing this, Yang Ling also flew into a rage. This was the so-called honest and upright official? Not caring about the big picture, not seeing the big picture. For the sake of his lofty stinking airs, he pushed aside political affairs and military affairs that concerned the lives and deaths of tens of thousands of people. He took sick leave and enjoyed the salary of the imperial court with a clear conscience. What a bunch of bastards!
Yang Ling gritted his teeth and said with a cold smile, "Corrupt and lawless officials are not to be used! Incorruptible but mediocre and incompetent officials are not to be used! Incorruptible and capable officials, but short-sighted and obstructing the imperial court from eliminating the maladies and reviving the Ming Dynasty's destiny, are especially not to be used! Perhaps Eunuch Liu has been criticized in many ways, and his goal in rectifying the bureaucracy may not be right, but this kind of official can be discarded. This lowly official firmly supports Eunuch Liu's decision. "
Yang Ling was really annoyed. He stood up and said, "Grand Secretary, don't be embarrassed. Just leave these evil things to Eunuch Liu. The imperial court's administration can't always be harmonious and everyone is happy. Half a thousand sails pass by the side of a sinking boat, and ten thousand trees grow in the front of a sickly tree. Just kick away these stumbling rotten things! "
* * *
Yang Ling took his leave and left the Canopy Hall. Only then did the anger in his heart subside. The snow in the palace was swept clean and the air was dry. Yang Ling felt the cold wind caressing his face and his mind was clear. Only then did he realize that he had been too impatient and angry.
He secretly reminded himself that now his authority was growing day by day and his every word and action was being watched by others. He should not act on impulse and show his emotions on his face. He should pay more attention to self-cultivation and the study of shrewdness in the future.
Yang Ling secretly took a breath and put his tongue against the roof of his mouth. He relaxed his body and followed the method taught by Wu Hanchao. His left hand hugged the air like a hook and his right thumb pinched the middle finger. He lowered his shoulders and walked slowly as if he was floating in the clouds.
This was Wudang's superior internal energy cultivation method. It would take at least a few decades to master it. Yang Ling had passed the best age to practice martial arts and had never thought of becoming a martial arts master. He only used it to strengthen his body and cultivate his mind.
But this breathing technique did have its wonders. Not only could it clear one's mind and clear one's mind, it could also dispel one's fatigue and make one feel refreshed after meditating for a while. Yang Ling did not care about the sect's restrictions. After listening to the formula, he asked about it and went back to explain it to Young-niang in detail. Han Youniang had a solid foundation and practiced hard qigong. It would not be difficult for her to learn superior martial arts. Yang Ling himself could not become a great person. If his wife learned it, it would be the same as the descendants of the Yang Family learned it. He still understood this.
Yang Ling had just learned it, his movements were somewhat stiff. He looked at his nose, looked at his heart, and strangely floated all the way to the warm western room of the Palace of Heavenly Purity. As soon as he looked up, he saw Zhengde, dressed in a black dragon robe, with a winged dragon crown on his head. In his bosom was a cupboard stove, looking at him with a smile. Surrounding him were a group of eunuchs and palace maids, a large group of people.
Yang Ling could not help smiling awkwardly. He quickly lowered his stance and rushed over to salute. "Your humble subject pays his respect to Your Majesty," he said, "Why are you standing here?"
Zhengde's handsome face was like jade. He pulled Yang Ling up and said with great joy, "Ha ha, I was watching some acrobatics in the courtyard. I heard people say you were swaying around like a duck, so I rushed over to watch the fun."
Yang Ling's face blushed slightly. He saw a platform had been set up in the courtyard. The door to the warm western room was wide open. Inside was a charcoal stove. In the middle of the room was a reclining chair with a coiled dragon. On top of the chair was a pile of soft, fluffy blankets as white as thick snow.
Yang Ling saw that Zhengde was still enthusiastic about these acrobatics. He could not help saying quietly to him, "Your Majesty, it is no wonder that the foreign ministers are so talkative. Your Majesty has already inherited the throne and is taking a concubine. In a few days, the title will be changed to Zhengde. Right now the court is not stable, and there is a war going on at the border. Your Majesty really should not be too distracted by these matters."
With a bitter face, Zhengde said, "Scholar Li advised, Master Yang advised, Jiao Daren advised, and now you have come to advise Zhen. Trapped in this deep Palace, Zhen can only go to the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Palace of Heavenly Purity, and the Palace of Benevolence. I was born here and grew up here. When I raise my head, I will see the sky. All day long, other than attending court, listening to lectures, and reading memorials, there is nothing else. I have to find something to do, right? Yang, Zhen's memorials have been read on time, there is absolutely no backlog. "
Hearing the Emperor's distress, Yang Ling had no choice but to say, "But … the weather is cold, Your Majesty is in the courtyard, watching the show. The door to the warm room is wide open. If you catch a cold, what will you do?"
Zhengde disapprovingly said, "How can it be that easy? Zhen has to practice Taizu's Long Fist twice in the morning, and I always wear light clothes and short clothes. If we talk about my body, Zhen is stronger than you."
He said this in high spirits, "That's right, come with Zhen to the Hall. Today these monkeys also know how to practice boxing. Let's see you and broaden your horizons."
He saw a skinny old man wearing a navy blue robe and a square scarf on his head, walking out with four monkeys. They did somersaults, human pyramid, and hundreds of tricks. The most amazing thing was that when the old man whistled, the four monkeys unexpectedly started to practice boxing. Yang Ling saw two little monkeys waving their furry claws, swaying left and right, looking charmingly naive. He couldn't help but smile. Looking at their appearance, it seemed that they were practicing drunken boxing.
The other two monkeys were methodically fighting each other. Although it was only four or five moves, they ran back to the old man to ask for fruit to eat. Zhengde could see that they were indeed practicing Taizu's Long Fist. He couldn't help but clap his hands and laugh, saying, "Servants, reward them."
Two little eunuchs carried a small wicker basket and walked to the front of the stairs. They used all their strength to sweep the basket out. The basket was full of new copper coins, perhaps more than a thousand wen. With a 'hua la la' sound, the coins scattered all over the floor.
Zhengde laughed and said, "Ha ha, Zhen looks at these monkeys. They are more adorable than those hateful people in the outer court and inner palace. Yang, do you think their boxing is fun?"
Yang Ling smiled slightly. Suddenly, through the window lattice, he heard a man's voice say from the side room, "It is indeed interesting. These monkeys are very clever. They must have seen the Emperor practicing boxing in the morning. After a round of Taizu's Long Fist, they secretly learned a few moves."
Yang Ling was startled. Ge Di's eyes widened. The voice was exactly the same as his, and the tone of the voice was exactly the same. Even Yang Ling suspected that he was in a different room. Then, a few complacent laughs could be heard. Emperor Zhengde's voice said, "Although it is interesting, it is tiring to look at it all the time. If it is spring, flowers bloom, and birds sing, then the beautiful scenery is better than looking at little monkeys."
Then, Yang Ling's voice said, "What is so difficult about that? The Emperor is the Son of Heaven. If he wants the earth to return to spring, flowers bloom, and birds to come, I think even the God of the Four Seasons would not dare to disobey the Emperor's decree. "
Before the voice died away, the faint sound of birds chirping and birds singing could be heard. Gradually, the sound of horse hooves could be heard, and there was the sound of laughter. It made one's mind involuntarily conjure up a picture of a lady walking in spring. Gradually, the pine wind, the flowing water, and the empty and remote scenery appeared before their eyes. There was also the sound of a teacher reciting poems and the gentle sound of a flute.
Yang Ling's eyes opened wider and wider, his heart thumping wildly. A name almost slipped out of his mouth. He could not help but rush over and pull open the door. The various noises stopped abruptly, and the two beauties who were half-bent over stood up in shock.
The two beauties wore purple silk jackets, black satin red bikinis, and jade colored skirts. Their delicate feet wore a pair of goatskin shoes with golden cloud toes. Their skin was delicate and fragrant, and they had oval faces and willow shaped eyebrows. They were the two troupe girls that he saw last time.
Shyflower was still as beautiful as ice, but Jieyu looked at him with a smile. Her cheeks were red, and her eyes were rippling. She had a unique charm. Zheng De mumbled, "How boring, how boring. Later on, there will be a scene where a village thug bullies a common girl, and I have to step in to save her. It'll be boring if you're exposed. You really can't keep your cool."
Yang Ling turned around in disappointment and walked quietly to Zheng De's side. He said, "I … I heard such a lifelike ventriloquism just now, and I couldn't help but think of an old friend. I thought … it was her outside the door …"
Jieyu and Shyflower also walked into the hall and stood beside Zhengde. When they heard this, both pairs of pretty eyes were on Yang Ling.
Zhengde said curiously, "When I heard this vocal skill, I was really surprised. They can even imitate a musical instrument. Who is your old friend? Does she also have this ability?"
Yang Ling recalled the young girl who stood under the bright sun, in high spirits, keeping him in suspense. She raised her eyebrows and said with a smile, "Mister Yang, my flute doesn't use a flute …"
The delicate voice still echoed in his ears. He once again thought of the heart-wrenching pain he felt when he saw that piece of blood-stained rock on the edge of the cliff. Yang Ling's throat felt a bit choked. He coughed twice before saying in a hoarse voice: "This old friend, the Emperor also remembers. It is that Tang YiXian … Miss Tang."
"Tang … Yixian …" Zhengde said slowly and his face dimmed. How could he forget the first girl who left a beautiful image in his heart so easily?
The two men were silent. The eunuchs and palace maids around them didn't know what happened and didn't say a word. Jieyu and Shyflower looked at each other and bit their lips. Their long eyelashes kept blinking and their faces were full of curiosity.
They had seen many men. It was rare to see the two in front of them. One was the emperor who owned the world, and the other was an important official who was second only to the emperor and above everyone else. He could have thousands of beauties, but he showed such nostalgia when talking about a girl. Who was that girl? Yixian … it was a beautiful name.
Zhengde touched his nose. After a moment, he suddenly asked, "There is no news at all? Even if it is … bad news? "
Yang Ling shook his head and said, "No, the government has long given up on the search. I have ordered the guards to keep an eye on the search, but there are no clues."
Zhengde waved his hand disinterestedly and said, "Disperse. Yang has entered the palace. He must have official matters to discuss with me." He looked at Jieyu and Shyflower. The two girls were very obedient. They knew when to act spoiled and when to be honest. They immediately curtsied and left quietly.
The two entered the inner room. Zhengde sat on a chair and pointed randomly. "You sit."
There wasn't a second chair in the emperor's study. Next to it was Zhengde's bed. Ever since Yang Ling was scolded by Wang Qiong, he didn't dare to ignore these small details. He smiled and stood in front of the imperial desk. He said, "Thank you, Your Majesty. It is convenient for me to report things here."
Zhengde nodded. He looked sideways and thought for a moment. He said, "Is there any progress on lifting the ban on the sea, or is the war at the northern frontier getting tense?"
Yang Ling shook his head and said, "Neither. Your Majesty, do you still remember that you secretly instructed Miao Kui to beat the little prince, punish the fire sieve, and secretly contact the three guards of Duoyan before sending out the troops?"
Zhengde's eyes brightened. He said excitedly, "Is it effective?"
Yang Ling nodded. "Yes, the little prince suspects that the fire sieve and Ming Destiny have a secret agreement. He is now very guarded against him. The 15,000 men of the fire sieve are arranged to the flank to fight against the army of the commander-in-chief Xu Tai alone. They are not willing to support them with the looted rations. The fire sieve's men are already complaining.
The situation on the battlefield doesn't seem to be critical anymore. Yang Yiqing is not moving but is holding the little prince back. There must be a reason for this. However, the Tatars come to our border to plunder every year. This scourge must be eliminated. Separating him and the fire sieve is only the first step.
If we can gain the support of the three guards of Duoyan, we can get an elite army out of thin air. At the same time, we can get a large number of warhorses from the Hetao region every year. On one hand, we can strengthen the mobility of Ming Destiny's border army.
On the other hand, the people of Hebei are responsible for raising horses. However, there are no good horses there. The people are forced to work hard and do not benefit the country much. If we can improve our relationship with the three guards of Duoyan, we can help the people get rid of the heavy burden. We can gain influence in the Hetao region and Liaodong region. In the future, we can take a step forward and expand our territory. We can occupy a fertile grassland and introduce Arabian horses. We can use them to improve the Mongolian and Southwestern horses. The advantage of the Tatars and Mongols will no longer exist. "
Opening up new territories had always been a phrase that moved the hearts of emperors the most. None of the emperors of past dynasties dared to compare themselves to the founding emperor. This was because the achievements of opening up new territories could not be compared to the achievements of a wise and virtuous emperor.
Zhengde's heart was beating fast. His young and handsome face was flushed with excitement. He nodded repeatedly and said: "Minister Yang is right. The war with the Tatars is only a temporary achievement. Forming an alliance with the three guards of Duoyan, we will gain an army and the enemy will lose a territory. Then we can divide and disintegrate them. This is a long-term strategy. If this matter succeeds, Minister Yang's contribution will not be comparable to that of a general. Have the three guards of Duoyan received the secret letter from the imperial court? "
Yang Ling nodded and said: "I have already made contact with them. But because of the many disputes between us and the three guards of Duoyan, although the chief of Hua Dang intends to side with me, Ming Destiny, there are many nobles in the three major tribes who are suspicious. They do not believe the envoy I sent. The chiefs replied that they want me to send Ming Destiny …"
He hesitated for a moment. The conditions proposed by Hua Dang really put him on an equal footing with Ming Destiny. If he said it out loud, he was afraid that Emperor Zhengde would immediately be furious. But this is a serious matter and he is really unwilling to give up. Yang Ling braced himself and said: "Hua Dang is just a chief of a grassland tribe. He does not know sages and does not know etiquette. He actually asked the emperor to personally go to Datong and make a blood oath with him on Mount Baishan. Only then will the three guards of Duoyan be willing to side with Ming Destiny."
After Yang Ling finished speaking, he quickly said: "But this matter can be negotiated. What I mean is that the emperor can send a member of the royal family who can represent the imperial court and the emperor to attend the appointment. This will certainly dispel his doubts."
To Yang Ling's surprise, Zheng De did not flare up. Instead, he stroked his chin and seemed to be deep in thought. He muttered to himself for a moment, then let out a soft laugh. He looked up at Yang Ling and said, "You want me to meet them personally? Even Boyan Khan sometimes fights and sometimes asks for peace. He also treats me like a subject. Hua Dang is really bold. "
Hearing this, Yang Ling became anxious and hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, I also know that Hua Dang's action is somewhat arrogant, but a little impatience will spoil a great plan." His gaze became crafty and said softly: "Those who are not of our race have different intentions. In the end, the three Duoyan guards are still Mongolians. They joined us only because they do not have the strength of Boyan Khan to plunder large amounts of wealth. Therefore, the cooperation now is only for each side to benefit.
If we endure for now, in the future, when the country becomes strong and has a complete military force, not only will we include Tatar Mongolia and Wala Mongolia into the territory of Ming Destiny, how can this fierce tiger beside our bed be an exception? A little impatience will spoil a great plan. "
"Heh heh heh heh … …" Emperor Zhengde stood up and laughed like a little hen laying eggs. He punched Yang Ling's chest and chuckled: "Who said that I cannot endure for a moment?"
He spread out his hands and blinked his eyes: "I am the only son of the previous emperor. The rest of the imperial family are all enfeoffed to various places as kings. How can they represent the imperial court and the emperor's imperial family? Who should I send, my beloved subject? The Empress Dowager? The Empress Dowager? Or my two imperial sisters? "
Yang Ling was at a loss for words. He hesitated for a moment before he saw Zheng De leap up excitedly and laugh heartily toward the sky. "When luck comes, even the city walls can't stop it. This flower is really cute."
He said proudly: "This time, I will personally go to Datong for the country, for the people, and for the country of Ming Destiny. All the civil and military officials have nothing to say, right?"
Yang Ling listened with his mouth agape. He saw Zhengde's handsome face was red and he put his hands on his waist and said: "If you don't let me go openly, I will go secretly. I will go to Datong!" He pointed at Yang Ling and said in an awe-inspiring manner: "I will leave this to Minister Yang. After the new year, we will go to Daoxuan Manor and go straight to Datong!"
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