Chapter 101 Jiang Qingzhi, you are deceiving the emperor (Thanks to "正版风随行" for becoming the leader of this book)
The weather is hot, but wealthy people have many ways to beat the heat.
Ice cellars were standard equipment for wealthy families. In winter, ice was taken and stored in the ice cellar for use in the summer.
Just think about it, on a hot summer day, how nice it would be to have a cup of sour plum juice with white steam coming out of it, or a huge ice jar that can cool down the room?
There are also many people who have other properties outside the city, and when the heat becomes unbearable, they move there with their families to escape the heat.
Jiang Qingzhi had a farm outside the city that was rewarded by Emperor Jiajing. There was a small river on the farm, which was very clear.
The last time the village head came to give gifts, he kindly invited Jiang Qingzhi to spend the summer there.
Ever since the Tiger Guards' Left Guard drill shocked all the officials, Jiang Qingzhi had been dormant for a while and had no intention of going to the farm.
Prince Yu and Prince Jing often came to class, and their little niece also came with them. However, she had no interest in the classes and liked playing with Duoduo the most.
"...Uncle, although Altan Khan is powerful, he is still far inferior to the Mongols. Moreover, the Ming Dynasty has been managing the nine frontiers for decades, imitating the Qin Emperor's construction of the Great Wall to resist foreign enemies."
King Jing has done a lot of homework on the Nine Frontiers these days, so he is particularly confident. "If Altan marches straight in, isn't he afraid that the Nine Frontiers' troops will cut off his retreat? Then the army will surround him, and if things go wrong, the whole army will be wiped out and buried in a foreign land."
Jiang Qingzhi glanced at Prince Yu and asked, "Do you have any opinion?"
Prince Yu said, "Uncle, I asked them. The Nine Frontiers are not like the southern and capital guards. They face the grassland barbarians directly. They harass the grassland barbarians every year... Therefore, the Nine Frontiers' frontier troops are fierce and capable of defending the capital."
When Emperor Chengzu moved the capital to Beijing, he placed the capital under the sight of the foreign tribes on the grassland.
Come, come if you have the guts.
Emperor Chengzu wished that the enemy troops would be mobilized in full force.
But they don't have the courage.
If you don't come, I will leave!
As a result, Chengzu made many northern expeditions and weakened the Mongols time and time again.
"If Emperor Chengzu had not launched five northern expeditions, what would the Ming Dynasty be like today?" Jiang Qingzhi did not directly respond to his two nephews, but asked in return.
King Jing thought for a moment and said, "Probably... there will be a lot more fighting!"
Prince Yu said: "But Chengzu launched five northern expeditions, which cost countless money and grain."
Jiang Qingzhi sighed, and just when the two princes were unsure whether their answer was correct or not, he said, "During the reign of Emperor Chengzu, the foreign tribes on the grassland were extremely powerful. They were eyeing the Ming Dynasty covetously."
He pointed to a sketch he had drawn and said, "If Chengzu had not launched five northern expeditions, when the Mongols had accumulated enough strength, they would have marched south in large numbers. Do you think the Ming Dynasty could resist?"
King Jing hesitated for a moment and said, "I think so!"
"Prince Yu!"
"can."
The two princes looked at their uncle, waiting for his answer.
Bah!
Jiang Qingzhi slammed the table and cursed: "Bullshit!"
He was furious. "If there was no Chengzu, with the character of Emperor Jianwen, who only knew how to be conservative and not enterprising, how could he be a match for those fierce armies?"
Prince Jing wanted to refute, but Prince Yu seemed to be thinking, "Yes! Emperor Chengzu succeeded in suppressing the rebellion with only a small corner of Beiping. Emperor Jianwen, however, had a large army and countless talents, but he was defeated in the end. This..."
"Prince Jing is clever, but lacks great wisdom!" Jiang Qingzhi commented.
"What about me?" asked Prince Yu.
If I say that your kid has some wisdom, King Jing's mother will find a way to kill you.
I dare not kill you, but it is easy to suppress you.
Jiang Qingzhi returned to the topic, "Even if Emperor Jianwen is safe and sound, what will happen next?"
Jiang Qingzhi said: "Today I will teach you two a method to deduce."
The two princes hurried to record it.
Outside the door, the eunuchs accompanying the two princes smiled, with a smug look in their eyes.
"The prince is a fool!"
"Isn't it? He doesn't get close to a real talent like Long Wilbur, but prefers to read and talk with those Confucian scholars."
On the opposite side, Fu Cheng appeared and two eunuchs smiled at him.
"It is said that this man served the late emperor, but now he works as a housekeeper in Chang Wei Bo's house. I wonder if he regrets leaving the palace."
"Most likely he regrets it. Seeing us enjoying such a good life, he might be regretting it to death."
Across the street, Fu Cheng said to Sun Chong Lou, "Concubine Lu Jing has sent some food over. There's something you like. Go ahead. I'll watch over here."
"No." Sun Chonglou shook his head, "The young master asked me to look after the study."
"You are a stubborn boy. However, if you can do this, there will definitely be a good result in the future."
Fu Cheng waved his chin towards the eunuchs who were whispering, "These people are sitting in the well and watching the world from afar in the palace. If they say something inappropriate, remember not to take action."
"Last time, someone complained about the food we prepared!" said Sun Chonglou.
"This is just a challenge. People in the palace are used to it. Just ignore it."
"Master, is the palace interesting?"
Fucheng shook his head.
"Do you regret leaving the palace?"
Fu Cheng shook his head again, "The greatest misfortune in my life is entering the palace, and the greatest fortune is being able to leave the palace."
Inside, Jiang Qingzhi was doing the deduction.
"…Emperor Chengzu left behind a group of brave soldiers and generals during his five northern expeditions. Without the five northern expeditions, the Ming army would have been much weaker. Is there any doubt about this?"
Jiang Qingzhi looked at the two students, and they both shook their heads.
"Then, the foreign tribes on the grasslands who have not experienced the five attacks by Emperor Chengzu will be more powerful. Is there any doubt about that?"
The two shook their heads.
"Let's assume that the Battle of Tumubao breaks out again. The weaker Ming army faces a stronger foreign enemy. What will happen in this battle?"
King Jing's eyelids twitched wildly, "Probably..."
"I want a definite answer!" Jiang Qingzhi put his hands on the table and stared at the two students.
“You will lose.”
"Yes, you will lose."
"It was a disastrous defeat!" Jiang Qingzhi's voice was filled with anger. "When the foreign army arrives at the gates of Beijing again, even if there are ten Yu Qians, they will not be able to stop it."
"Uncle, it shouldn't be that serious, right?" Prince Yu looked unhappy.
"This is the most objective deduction, but the fact is..." Jiang Qingzhi thought of the incident the year after next when Altan Khan's army marched all the way to the gates of Beijing and the Ming Dynasty almost perished.
"Some frustrated people in Japan can cause unrest in the southeast of the Ming Dynasty and make it anxious and miserable." Jiang Qingzhi felt that the Ming Dynasty was too optimistic. "In the north, Altan Khan is much weaker than the enemies that Chengzu faced back then, but he can make the nine borders silent and afraid to attack. Where do you get the courage to think that the Ming Dynasty can withstand Altan Khan's massive attack?"
In the 29th year of Jiajing's reign, Altan led a large army southward.
At the beginning, Altan was a little nervous, but when the garrison troops in Datong watched his army march south, and even Qiu Luan quietly sent people to him... - If you don't hit me, I won't hit you.
In a word, just go.
Altan thought it was Qiu Luan's plot, but when his army reached the outskirts of Beijing with great force, Altan finally understood.
"The Ming Dynasty is no longer the Ming Dynasty that frightened all foreign races when it was founded!"
Jiang Qingzhi ended today's class with these words.
He wanted to remind Emperor Jiajing to pay attention to Altan.
King Jing did not move, but asked in confusion: "Uncle, Altan has sent envoys constantly over the years. Even though my father executed one envoy after another, he still sent one after another. If Altan was powerful, why would he give his face to the Ming Dynasty so often?"
Yes!
Prince Yu also felt that this matter was a little... He glanced at his uncle and suppressed his doubts.
"This is a delaying tactic." Jiang Qingzhi said: "Altan needs time to defeat his enemies."
The two princes had another lunch and then went back.
"Do you think your uncle is so eager to make a contribution that he exaggerates the threat posed by Altan Khan?" King Jing asked.
The two walked side by side on the street, with plainclothes guards standing guard around them.
Prince Yu said: "I feel... my cousin is just worried about state affairs."
"You are a cunning man." King Jing sneered, "You are unwilling to offend your uncle."
"Where can I have it?"
"So you said that Altan could have destroyed the Ming Dynasty?"
The eunuch following behind him twitched his cheeks, thinking that the two princes' topic was too excessive.
When this reached the ears of Emperor Jiajing, he could not help but scold him.
Prince Yu shook his head, "Definitely not."
"That's right." King Jing suddenly laughed, "See, you also think that what your cousin said is wrong, but you don't dare to point it out."
Prince Yu glanced at him and said, "You couldn't help but argue with your uncle, and you were worried about offending him, so you dragged me into it."
"Huh!" King Jing couldn't help but asked in surprise, "You actually knew that?"
"Do you think I'm stupid?" After all, he is still a child, Prince Yu raised his eyebrows.
Someone from Emperor Jiajing's side came and called the two of them over.
The father and his two sons had a conversation across the wall.
Finally, Emperor Jiajing asked about what he had learned recently.
"My cousin said that we should be wary of Altan. As for the Nine Frontiers, they are definitely no match for Altan. If Altan finds out the strength of the Ming Dynasty, he might march south in the next two years."
Prince Yu spoke very honestly.
Across the wall, Emperor Jiajing smiled, "Qingzhi is the most enterprising kid. Maybe in his eyes, the Ming Dynasty should lead its army to the north now. As for me, I should learn from Emperor Chengzu and lead the army to the north to the grasslands, or even charge into the battle myself..."
"Father, I think my uncle is too anxious." King Jing expressed his opinion.
Prince Yu also nodded, "Yes."
The father and his two sons all laughed.
"Your Majesty, urgent news from Datong."
The Ministry of War sent an urgent report.
The urgent report was delivered to Emperor Jiajing. He took a look at it and then remained silent.
"Father." King Jing's heart moved, thinking of Concubine Lu Jing asking him to find an opportunity to express his views on political affairs, "But there is something unusual..."
"Altan's men have breached five forts in Datong Town, and the defenders have been wiped out!"
Emperor Jiajing suddenly roared, "Zhang Da is incompetent and watched thousands of enemy troops run rampant. He deserves to be killed!"
The two princes stood there in panic, their hands clasped.
Emperor Jiajing panted, his eyes full of murderous intent. He suddenly asked, "What did you two say earlier? Qingzhi said Altan..."
Prince Yu said, "My cousin said that whenever the grasslands are close to unification, they will inevitably turn their attention to the south. It's because there is no longer any benefit for them to fight on the grasslands. But those tribes want to eat meat. So, where is the meat?"
……
“Meat is in the south.”
Jiang Qingzhi entered the palace and after learning the battle report, he said: "After conquering the opponents in Qinghai, Altan gradually began to turn his attention to the south. Your Majesty, I think that the peaceful days of the Ming Dynasty are numbered."
"Call Yan Song and others."
Yan Song, Zhu Xizhong, Lu Bing, the long-missed Cui Yuan...these were the trusted team of Emperor Jiajing in the Western Garden.
"What do you think?"
Emperor Jiajing asked.
Cui Yuan looked thinner, but more energetic.
It is said that he wrote a heartfelt apology every two days at home and prayed for Emperor Jiajing three times a day. Only then did Emperor Jiajing reinstate this old ghost.
Yan Song said: "Your Majesty, Altan Khan harasses the nine borders every year. I think that the nine borders should be strictly guarded..."
This is a cliché.
Jiang Qingzhi stood up, and Cui Yuan glanced at him, with hatred in his eyes almost materializing.
Lu Bing lowered his eyes. Compared with Jiang Qingzhi, the only things that made Emperor Jiajing trust him were two things. One was the relationship between them as brothers since childhood, and the other was that he and Zhu Xizhong had saved Emperor Jiajing together.
But Jiang Qingzhi is his real cousin, and they are related by blood.
Lu Bing's only remaining advantage is his contribution in saving the emperor.
However, Jiang Qingzhi also had the possibility of training the Huben Zuowei and becoming a trusted general of Emperor Jiajing.
The credit for saving the emperor will eventually fade, and if the young Jiang Qingzhi continues in this way, Lu Bing feels that he will be abandoned by Emperor Jiajing sooner or later.
He glanced at Jiang Qingzhi, and the young man stood straight and said in his pleasant voice:
"Your Majesty, I dare to assert that Altan's envoy will arrive soon."
Lu Bing was so anxious that he even forgot to keep a low profile and said, "The Royal Guards have not received the news. How can Lord Chang Wei say this? You must know that the crime of deceiving the emperor is unforgivable!"
……
Here comes the fourth update. Brothers, it’s time for dinner.
(End of this chapter)
