As soon as the morning court ended, Yang Sichang came to the side hall to wait.

The situation in Liaodong was temporarily stabilized, and Yang Sichang breathed a sigh of relief. Next, his focus turned to Hong Chengchou, the governor of the five central provinces.

The battle to annihilate the rogue bandits was going on in a mess. Li Zicheng was entrenched in Shaanxi, Zhang Xianzhong was entrenched in Henan, and there were traces of rogue bandits in Shanxi, Shandong, Huguang, Sichuan and Nanzhili. Besides, except for Chuang Wang Li Zicheng and the Eight Kings

Leaders of the rogue bandits such as Zhang Xianzhong, Cao Cao and Luo Rucai, King Zuo Jin He Jin, Hun Shiwanma Jinzhong, King Shuntian Gao Yingdeng, and King Kaishi Xubian also appeared again, and their strength gradually grew.

Yang Sichang remembered clearly that when Wu Zongrui was the governor of the five provinces, he captured alive the bandit leader Chuang Wang Gao Yingxiang, and then beheaded the bandit leader Lao Huihui Ma Shouying, Ge Liyan He Yilong, Shooting the Sky Down Li Wanqing, Sweeper King Zhang Yichuan, Four Heavenly Kings Li Yangchun, etc.

, the so-called 13 families and 72 battalions of the Xingyang Conference in the eighth year of Chongzhen were so beaten by Wu Zongrui that they no longer dared to take the lead.

If Wu Zongrui continues to be responsible for the extermination of rogue bandits, I believe that in more than half a year, most of the rogue bandits will be completely wiped out and the north will basically be stabilized.

It's a pity that Wu Zongrui has a more important mission and cannot continue to exterminate the bandits.

The imperial court transferred Wu Zongrui and his Denglai New Army to Liaodong, and appointed Hong Chengchou as the general headquarters of the five provinces, with the title of Shangshu of the Ministry of War, to be fully responsible for the extermination of bandits. The emperor also specially dispatched Gao Qiqian as the supervisor to ensure the logistics supply of the army.

.

More than half a year passed, and the bandits became more and more rampant.

Yang Sichang was so angry that he was ready to impeach Hong Chengchou just after the morning session.

Yang Sichang didn't like Hong Chengchou, but he didn't have much hatred either. Although Hong Chengchou was a subordinate of his father Yang He and disobeyed orders and killed some of the bandits who had surrendered, the facts proved that Yang He was indeed wrong. Hong Chengchou

That's correct. Although Yang Sichang did not admit his fault, he recognized Hong Chengchou's actions in his heart. Besides, his father Yang He was punished by the court and lost his life, which was not directly related to Hong Chengchou. Yang Sichang would not go to great lengths to deal with Hong Chengchou.

But Hong Chengchou had just written a memorial to the emperor, which aroused Yang Sichang's anger.

Hong Chengchou defended himself in the memorial, pointing the finger at him, Yang Sichang and the supervisory army Gao Qiqian, and also at the Ministry of War. He pushed all the responsibility for the unfavorable growth of the rogue bandits and the elimination of the rogue bandits to the Ministry of War and the supervisory army.

This made Yang Sichang unbearable the anger in his heart.

As a cabinet minister, concurrently serving as Minister of War, and conferred the title of Prince Shaobao, Yang Sichang gained the emperor's complete trust. He even had more say in military affairs than Zhang Zhifa, the chief minister of the cabinet. He was extremely powerful. If he really wanted to deal with Hong Chengchou, he would not be able to capture him.

For the sake of the overall situation, Yang Sichang did not plot against Hong Chengchou, nor did he deliberately suppress Hong Chengchou.

Unexpectedly, Hong Chengchou took the initiative to provoke.

...

"Wen Ruo, you don't look very good, what's wrong..."

When the emperor's voice appeared, Yang Sichang suddenly came to his senses, and he quickly bowed to the emperor.

"Reporting to the Emperor, after the court dispersed in the morning, I came to the side hall to wait. I was just thinking about things and did not pay attention to the Emperor. This is my sin. Please atone for my sin..."

"Wen Ruo, you have devoted all your energy and energy to the affairs of the government. What's the crime? Come on and follow me to the side hall."

Yang Sichang nodded and followed the emperor towards the side hall.

Zhang Zhifa looked at Yang Sichang, whose face was not very good, and a gleam of light burst out from his eyes.

A group of people entered the side hall. Before Zhang Zhifa and Yang Sichang could salute, Zhu Youjian spoke.

"Wen Ruo, tell me what you were thinking just now."

Yang Sichang coughed and looked at Zhang Zhifa beside him and Wang Chengen beside the emperor.

Wang Chengen was already the eunuch Bingbi, the first eunuch among the eunuchs, and the most trusted eunuch by the emperor.

"Your Majesty, what I just thought of was the extermination of the bandits. Master Wu, the governor of Jiliao, defeated the Tatars of Houjin in Liaodong and maintained the stability of Liaodong and the border. It is said that at this time, Mr. Hong Chengchou, the governor of the five provinces, should lead the towns

Army, defeat the rogue bandits and stabilize the north. Who knows that the Ministry of War has received news that not only Shaanxi, Shanxi, Henan, Huguang, Sichuan and other places have been invaded by rogue bandits, but also some places in Shandong and South Zhili, rogue bandits have appeared

I don’t understand the traces, so I’m thinking hard..."

Zhu Youjian looked at Yang Sichang, Zhang Zhifa and others, and spoke slowly.

"What Wen Ruo means is that Wu Aiqing will be assigned to continue to be responsible for exterminating the bandits..."

As soon as Zhu Youjian finished speaking, Zhang Zhifa cupped his fists and spoke.

"Your Majesty, I think this is impossible."

"Oh, Zhang Aiqing, tell me what you think about it."

This time, Zhang Zhifa did not hesitate and spoke immediately.

"Master Wu, as the governor of Jiliao, is responsible for the stability of Liaodong and the border. If the border is stable, the capital and the capital can be completely stabilized. Although the imperial court won the battle of Liaodong, no one knows what the Tatars will do after the Jin Dynasty.

It will not come back. Under such circumstances, Mr. Wu must stick to Liaodong, resist the attack of the Tatars of the Later Jin Dynasty, and maintain the stability of Liaodong and the border."

"As for the situation of suppressing the bandits, I am not particularly clear. If the momentum of the bandits is stronger than before, it means that the battle to suppress the bandits has completely failed. The cabinet and the Ministry of War need to make a review. If it fails, the candidates for the governors of the five provinces can be adjusted.

, and determine a clear tactical arrangement..."

Before Zhang Zhifa finished speaking, Zhu Youjian nodded frequently.

Just as Zhang Zhifa finished speaking, Yang Sichang spoke next.

"I think what Mr. Zhang is saying is that I don't want Mr. Wu to be responsible for suppressing the bandits. I just think that as the governor of the five provinces, Mr. Hong Chengchou should bear the responsibility for his ineffectiveness in suppressing the bandits..."

Zhu Youjian nodded slightly and did not speak immediately. Of course he understood the reason.

As the chief minister of the cabinet, Zhang Zhifa should express his position at this time. If Zhang Zhifa agrees with Yang Sichang's suggestion, then Hong Chengchou will definitely be punished by the emperor and the court.

Zhang Zhifa did not express his position immediately. He knew some of the reasons.

Seeing that Zhang Zhifa didn't speak immediately, Zhu Youjian frowned slightly and turned to look at Wang Chengen.

"Cheng'en, what do you think of Wen Ruo's proposal?"

Wang Chengen coughed slightly and spoke.

"Your Majesty, I think Mr. Yang's proposal is quite reasonable. The Tatars of Houjin are the most rampant. Mr. Wu defeated 100,000 Tatars of Houjin in Liaodong and won the victory, maintaining the stability of Liaodong and the border. The rogue bandits

The fighting power is not strong at all, and cannot be compared with the Tatars of the Later Jin Dynasty. Lord Hong is responsible for exterminating the bandits. More than half a year has passed, and the bandits have become more and more rampant, causing instability in many places in the north of the Ming Dynasty. At the beginning of the year, the imperial court provided relief to Shanxi and Shaanxi.

The food was actually stolen by rogue bandits, resulting in the people in the two places being unable to receive relief from the imperial court. Mr. Hong needs to bear certain responsibilities..."

Yang Sichang and Wang Chengen had the same views and agreed with the imperial court to punish Hong Chengchou. However, what is strange is that neither of them mentioned the supervisor Gao Qiqian.

At this point, Zhang Zhifa could no longer remain silent.

"Your Majesty, I agree with Lord Yang's proposal. The bandits are becoming more and more rampant. Lord Hong Chengchou, the governor of the five provinces, should bear certain responsibilities."

Zhu Youjian nodded slightly and looked at Zhang Zhifa with a meaningful look.

"We are weak. I think that Hong Chengchou is no longer suitable to serve as the governor of the five provinces and to be responsible for the suppression of bandits on behalf of the imperial court. I wonder if you have a suitable person to recommend."

As soon as Zhu Youjian finished speaking, Zhang Zhifa's body trembled slightly.

It should be the responsibility of the cabinet to recommend civil and military officials to the emperor and the court. As a cabinet minister and also the minister of the Ministry of War, Yang Sichang can of course make recommendations, but this time he recommends the governors of the five provinces, or at least the minister of the Ministry of War, who is also responsible for the extermination on behalf of the court.

Regarding the matter of rogue bandits, this position is extremely critical. Logically speaking, the emperor should submit the recommendation matter to the cabinet for discussion, and the emperor will ultimately make the decision. However, the emperor directly consulted Yang Sichang in the side hall and asked Yang Sichang to propose candidates, which was obviously not the case.

suitable.

Zhang Zhifa thought of Wu Zongrui, the conversation with Wu Zongrui that night, and Wu Zongrui's reminder.

Yang Sichang didn't hesitate much and answered immediately.

"Reporting to the Emperor, I recommend Mr. Xiong Wencan, the left minister of the Ministry of War, to serve as the governor of the five provinces, responsible for the suppression of bandits..."

Before Zhang Zhifa could speak again, Zhu Youjian turned to ask Wang Chengen.

"Cheng'en, what do you think of Wen Ruo's proposal?"

Wang Chengen was not polite and spoke immediately.

"Your Majesty, I believe that Mr. Xiong is fully qualified to serve as the governor of the five provinces. In terms of the victory of the Battle of Liaodong, Mr. Xiong also had a share of the credit. When Mr. Xiong went to Liaodong on behalf of the imperial court to supervise the war, he did not return to the capital immediately, but stationed himself there.

In Liaodong, I gave the greatest encouragement to the army, and I agree with Master Yang’s recommendation..."

Zhu Youjian finally looked at Zhang Zhifa.

It was impossible for Zhang Zhifa to say anything.

"Your Majesty, I agree with Master Yang's recommendation."

Zhu Youjian stood up with a smile.

"Okay, I am very pleased. You are all thinking about the affairs between the DPRK and China. Liaodong and the border have been stabilized. Next, it is the matter of completely wiping out the bandits. The north must be stabilized. The cabinet will draft a decree immediately. Xiong Wencan will serve as the left minister of the Ministry of War.

He was appointed governor of the five provinces, and was granted the title of censor of Zuo Qiandu of the Inspection Council. As for Hong Chengchou, he was asked to return to the capital and rest for a while..."

...

After walking out of the side hall, Zhang Zhifa felt dizzy and almost unsteady on his feet.

What happened today was beyond Zhang Zhifa's imagination. Looking back at this time, Yang Sichang and Wang Chengen seemed to be singing in harmony. As the chief minister of the cabinet, he was completely caught in the middle and had no right to speak. Thinking about it, the emperor trusted him the most.

Two people have reached an agreement, and if you get involved yourself, wouldn't you be asking for boredom?
Chapter completed!