Chapter 352 Not giving in
Inside the hall, Cui Yuan pointed at Jiang Qingzhi and shouted.
Jiang Qingzhi stood there calmly, "I just provided an option. In addition, I can also guide the generals to train the rebuilt Beijing Guards. As for where to go, I dare not speak rashly. I will take my leave."
After Jiang Qingzhi left, the hall fell into silence.
After an unknown amount of time, Cui Yuan said, "Your Majesty, the soldiers of the Huben Left Guard respect Jiang Qingzhi like a god. If the Huben Left Guard is disbanded and assigned to other guards as the backbone, it won't be long before the Beijing Guard will belong to whom?"
……
Jiang Qingzhi returned home and called Xu Wei and others.
"Just now I suggested in the West Garden that the Beijing Guards should rebuild in two ways. One is to break up the Tiger Guards and Left Guards and assign them to the various guards as the backbone. The second is that I will teach the generals how to train."
Hu Zongxian frowned, "My Lord, forgive me for being blunt, but no dynasty would allow the army that protects the capital to be controlled by others. If the Left Tiger Guard is disbanded and the Beijing Guard is used as the backbone... even if His Majesty trusts you, your Lordship has said that human nature is selfish. I think your move is not advisable."
"It's a taboo!" Xu Wei didn't hesitate like Hu Zongxian and spoke his mind directly. "Even if the prince is reborn, Your Majesty will not give him the opportunity to become powerful in the Beijing Guard. This has nothing to do with father-son relationship. This is human instinct. Lord..."
Xu Wei and Hu Zongxian looked at each other and both wondered if their boss was tired and confused recently.
"You all think I'm confused?" Jiang Qingzhi smiled, stroking the ruler on the table, "The purge of the Beijing guards is imperative. Although this may offend people, we must be resolute and resolute. But reconstruction... who can take on this important task?"
Xu Wei thought for a moment, "The military honors of the capital are not very useful, even the Duke of Chengguo is the same. Qiu Luan and others have great ambitions but little talent, and the nine frontiers... the nine frontiers are afraid of the enemy like a tiger. Letting them lead the reconstruction of the capital guards, not to mention their lack of ability, may turn the capital guards into weaklings."
"So after looking around, only the uncle is the most suitable." Hu Zongxian's body suddenly trembled, "Is the uncle doing this on purpose?"
……
"It seems that His Majesty is preparing to rebuild the Beijing Guards."
Yang Qing was holding the chess manual in his hand and was typing it out.
"This is good news!" Han Yu said with a smile, "All the generals of the Beijing Guard have been captured. The military honors of the capital have long been degraded and are no longer useful. The generals of the nine borders are afraid of the enemy like a tiger. Who can lead the reconstruction of the Beijing Guard? Only Jiang Qingzhi."
Yang Qing made his move, and then pondered for a while, "Leading the reconstruction of the Beijing Guards may seem glorious, but what happens next?"
"Jiang Qingzhi's prestige in the Beijing Guard will be unprecedentedly high. Your Majesty, can you sleep well at night?" Han Yu said sarcastically, "Do you know why Your Majesty changed from sleeping at night to sleeping during the day?"
Yang Qing raised his eyes.
Han Yu said, "During the coup that year, several palace maids almost strangled him to death. Since then, His Majesty has been afraid to fall asleep at night. As soon as he closes his eyes, he always feels that someone is trying to harm him."
"Haha!" Yang Qing couldn't help but smile, "I see."
Han Yu was cheered up. "Only Jiang Qingzhi is the most suitable person to rebuild the Beijing Guard. After he takes over, let our people not stop him, and even agree with him."
"Let him enjoy the glory." Yang Qing placed a piece, "It's really a brilliant move!"
……
"Dad, don't you understand?"
In the Zhilu, Yan Shifan's eyes were filled with regret that could not be concealed. "Jiang Qingzhi chose to mention this matter at this time, which is to tell Your Majesty that this matter is taboo and he does not want to do it."
Yan Shifan shook his head and sighed at Cui Yuan, "If Prince Consort Cui had not spoken at that time, Jiang Qingzhi would have had no choice but to speak frankly to Your Majesty."
Yan Song sat down, "How could I not know? However, the reconstruction of the Beijing Guard is a serious matter. It not only concerns the safety of Your Majesty, but also you and I. It is best to let Jiang Qingzhi take charge."
"From now on, this matter will be a thorn in His Majesty's heart, and sooner or later His Majesty will be suspicious of him!" Lu Bing said.
"What a pity." Yan Shifan threw the pen away. "This person is really remarkable for being able to resist the temptation of power."
……
The Taoist priest slept little today. After getting up, he did not eat and paced back and forth in front of the hall.
"That idiot, does he think I can't see that?" The Taoist priest paced with his hands behind his back, looking quite sage in the autumn wind. "What two paths are you talking about? I don't think he will choose either one!"
Huang Jin smiled apologetically, "Your Majesty, please eat first! As for Chang Wei Bo, you can punish him later."
"Tell me how I should punish him?" Emperor Jiajing stopped and turned around.
Huang Jin said: "How about... hanging him up and beating him?"
"Hang him up and beat him?" Emperor Jiajing was startled. He imagined the scene and thought it was too beautiful. "That idiot will definitely cry out loudly. Well, I'm afraid my mother will come to me in my dreams to scold me at night..."
Emperor Jiajing then went to Concubine Lu.
"Your Majesty." Concubine Lu Jing welcomed him in and said, "Today someone whispered to me that the Beijing Guards were leaderless and that I had nightmares at night. I thought that such things were not something a woman in the boudoir could talk about, so I reprimanded the person and said that Your Majesty had his own opinion on the matter. Your Majesty, do you think my handling of the matter was good? If not, just tell me and I will send someone to pass on the message."
She talked a lot, but the Taoist didn't feel bored. After sitting down, he said comfortably: "Bring the food, don't be too complicated, just a bowl of noodle soup, something light."
"Would you like some chili oil?" asked Concubine Lu.
"How come you have it here too?" The Taoist was surprised, thinking, didn't I order Huang Jin to go to Xin'an Lane to confiscate it last time?
Concubine Lu Jing smiled and said, "I ate it once at your majesty's place and found it quite enjoyable. Didn't I reward Princess Huating with a pair of jade ruyi last time? The Jiang family's return gift was a large jar of chili oil."
Emperor Jiajing glanced at Huang Jin.
Every time he ordered Huang Jin to go to Xin'an Lane to confiscate chili peppers, the idiot would say they were sold out, and then he would squeeze out some and send some away to the people who came, causing the Taoist to eat them carefully, fearing that he would run out of food after they were all gone.
Huang Jin lowered his head and looked docile, thinking that Chang Wei Bur was indeed keeping the things to himself, so he would ask for more next time.
The noodle soup is topped with chili oil and garnished with some green leafy vegetables, which looks pleasing to the eye.
After eating the noodle soup, Emperor Jiajing drank a cup of tea and asked, "In your eyes, am I such a mean emperor?"
Concubine Lu was startled, wondering who had offended Emperor Jiajing. She carefully considered her words, "In your eyes, Your Majesty has a clear distinction between love and hate."
Huang Jin thought this was a very insightful statement.
The Taoist sighed, "Yes! But...why don't you believe me?"
He sat for a while and then left. Concubine Lu Jing gave a wink and Chen Yan followed him.
As expected, Huang Jin fell behind, and Chen Yan quietly asked, "Who offended His Majesty?"
Huang Jin said: "Chang Wei Bo didn't inform His Majesty of something, and he was a little worried about His Majesty's suspicion."
Later, Chen Yan appeared in Xin'an Lane.
"The Queen said that His Majesty is very caring towards Master, but Master...Alas!"
Jiang Qingzhi was stunned. He felt that his method was correct, so he handed the ladder to the Taoist priest and told him to just climb down.
"Oh!" Jiang Qingzhi felt that he was being a villain in vain, so he went to the kitchen to tinker with it, and then went to the West Garden with two jars.
They were all old acquaintances. Jiang Qingzhi opened the jar and a burst of fragrance came over him. The guards were salivating. Jiang Qingzhi smiled and said, "Want a sip?"
"My Lord, you are teasing me again." The guards knew that this was for the Taoist priest, and quickly helped him put the lid on.
When Jiang Qingzhi arrived at Yongshou Palace carrying two jars, the Taoist priest was practicing boxing in the open space in front of the palace.
The sun is already setting, aren't you afraid of attracting the sun's true fire?
Jiang Qingzhi complained in his heart, put the jar aside, sat down on the ground, and waved to call the eunuch beside Huang Jin.
"What's it called?"
"Zhang Tong."
"How big?"
"Thirteen."
This young eunuch looked much younger than Prince Yu and Prince Jing, but he was exceptionally innocent.
The fair and tender Zhang Tong was a little timid. Huang Jin coughed dryly and said, "Zhang Tong will soon be with His Majesty. Don't bully him!"
"Am I that kind of person?" Jiang Qingzhi said with a smile.
After the Taoist finished his set of punches, Zhang Tong trotted over and handed him a cloth, then looked up and asked, "Your Majesty, would you like some tea?"
"The newcomer doesn't know His Majesty's habits yet." Huang Jin stood beside Jiang Qingzhi, "Don't bully him!"
"This is the second time you've said it." Jiang Qingzhi said unhappily.
"You have been to the palace many times, but have you ever asked anyone questions like this?" Huang Jin sneered.
Jiang Qingzhi said: "I just looked into his eyes and felt a little ashamed of myself."
Huang Jin was stunned.
The Taoist looked at Zhang Tong who was looking up and nodded slightly.
Zhang Tong trotted over, "Your Majesty wants some tea, hurry up!"
"Where did it come from?" Jiang Qingzhi asked.
"It was said that the family was so poor that they could barely make ends meet, and the three brothers were all vying to enter the palace. Their mother was crying in the middle of the night, saying that she couldn't bear to see any of the three children go. Zhang Tong heard this, so he went to the kitchen, holding a kitchen knife..."
Jiang Qingzhi: “…”
"This kid almost died that night." Huang Jin sighed, "Looking at him reminds me of myself back then."
The Taoist priest came over, and Jiang Qingzhi stood up. "It's a nice day, and I think it's suitable for drinking, but my wife at home said that I should drink less because of my body. You said that this man drinks, and the old women are mumbling about it! I was annoyed, so I came to your majesty to have a meal."
Emperor Jiajing waved his hand, and Huang Jin lowered his head and went to make arrangements.
"What did you bring?"
The Taoist took a sniff.
"This one is stewed lamb chops, and this one is braised pork with salted vegetables. You like light food, so you can have the lamb chops, and I like the pork with salted vegetables."
“Braised pork?”
The food is served and the vegetables are taken out of the jars.
The lamb chops were indeed bland, and the soup looked watery.
The Taoist ate two pieces and praised: "The lighter the food, the more it tastes. It is more appealing than any delicious food."
"Slurp!" While he was talking, Jiang Qingzhi ate two slices of braised pork with a very happy look on his face.
"Don't you want to drink?" Dao Ye pointed at the wine glass. Huang Jin came over to pour the wine. Dao Ye shook his head and said, "Let him pour it."
Jiang Qingzhi wiped his hands and filled the glasses for Taoist Master and himself.
"This cup is for you." Jiang Qingzhi drank it all.
The Taoist drank half a cup.
Jiang Qingzhi toasted several times and soon felt a little tipsy.
"I have always wanted to speak directly about the matter of the Beijing Guards, but after thinking about it, I feel that I am a bit of a coward." Jiang Qingzhi took a sip of his wine, "I have been a bit tired recently."
Emperor Jiajing looked at his features and said, "You look... a bit like your mother."
Jiang Qingzhi was delighted, "I look like my aunt?"
Emperor Jiajing nodded and asked, "Want to leave Beijing?"
Taoist priest!
You don't want people to live, do you?
Jiang Qingzhi nodded, "Yes."
"Not bad." Emperor Jiajing picked up a piece of braised pork, and the melt-in-the-mouth texture made him praise, "Not bad."
"I made it myself." Jiang Qingzhi said proudly, "When it comes to eating, I dare say I am the best in the world."
"You, the local official, will definitely not do this." Emperor Jiajing took a sip of wine. "Altan Khan has stopped his aggression in the north. I think things will be quiet in the near future."
Jiang Qingzhi felt that his thoughts were clearly visible to the Taoist priest.
"The Japanese pirates were causing quite a stir in the southeast a while ago. I remember that you encouraged the officers and soldiers to defeat the pirates on the way to exile." Emperor Jiajing said slowly, "Do you want to go there?"
Jiang Qingzhi was delighted and said, "Yes."
Emperor Jiajing said: "The officers and soldiers in the southeast are helpless in the face of the Japanese pirates, and the Tiger Guards have never been to sea. If you are not sure, I will arrange for someone else to go..."
"Your Majesty!" Jiang Qingzhi held the wine glass, "I can be humble in other matters, but only in this matter... Even if the two princes argue with me, I will not retreat an inch."
There seemed to be two flames in his eyes.
"Kill the Japanese pirates, I will do it without hesitation!"
(End of this chapter)
