The atmosphere in the morning court was a bit solemn. Almost everyone in the court knew that the situation in Shaanxi had become bad and the power of the rogue bandits had grown unprecedentedly. Hanzhong in Shaanxi was completely occupied by the rogue Li Zicheng. Li Zicheng also coveted Fengxiang Fucheng. It had been several months since the rogue bandit Zhang Xianzhong entered Sichuan.

Time has passed, and they are moving in the direction of Chengdu with the intention of occupying the capital of Chengdu. The rogue bandit Luo Rucai is active in the Nanyang area of ​​Henan and has occupied several cities. The initially unknown rogue bandit Gao Yingdeng is firmly entrenched in the Xiangyang area of ​​​​Huguang.

The total strength of these bandits alone is said to be nearly one million.

This does not include the nearly ten bandits operating in other places.

The strength of the Liaodong border army was recognized in the court. Originally, the emperor ordered Wu Xiang, the commander-in-chief of Shanhaiguan Pass, to go to the Central Plains to exterminate the bandits. Many people were optimistic about this. They remembered clearly that Cao Wenzhao led the Liaodong border army to enter the pass.

The rogue bandits were exterminated, and the bandits who were beaten had no choice but to flee for their lives. Later, a mutiny occurred in Dengzhou and Laizhou, and it was Liaodong frontier troops who went to put it down.

The victory of the rogue bandits shocked everyone in the DPRK. Wu Xiang entered Shaanxi and was ambushed by the rogue bandits before he could start the battle. He suffered heavy losses and had to withdraw his troops.

This caused some discussion in the court, whether it was the rogue bandits who had become extremely powerful, and the people who had been separated for three days looked at them with admiration, and were fundamentally different from the past, or whether Wu Xiang, the commander-in-chief of Shanhaiguan, lost Jingzhou carelessly and underestimated the enemy too much, which led to the disastrous defeat.

Most people hold the second view, thinking that Wu Xiang must have underestimated the enemy, which led to the disastrous defeat.

In fact, many people internally agree with the fact that the power of rogue bandits is gradually getting stronger. The rogue bandits are a little different from before. However, the people in the DPRK have always had a mentality of reporting good things but not bad things. When they really encounter trouble, they are also willing to use an ostrich mentality.

To paralyze oneself, besides, no matter how arrogant the bandits are, it is a distant matter and has nothing to do with the adults in the court.

Some adults in the main hall were talking quietly in private, commenting on the situation in Shaanxi. Although their voices were not loud, there were more people talking, and the whole hall was buzzing.

When the emperor entered the main hall, the surrounding area quickly became quiet.

According to the rules of the court, the morning court generally does not discuss important matters, that is, the emperor or the chief minister of the cabinet announces some things to let the adults in the court know. Moreover, the scale of the morning court is also different. The largest court has the largest number of people, and those above the seventh rank in the capital

All officials participate, but it is only held at specific times. The number of people in the regular court is relatively fixed, and all officials of the fourth rank or above in the capital participate.

Really important matters are discussed in the side hall. The early court meeting is not long, so it is impossible to deal with important government affairs at the beginning. After the court meeting, the emperor will go to the side hall to handle official affairs, including cabinet ministers, six ministers, and the censor of Zuodu.

The officials will go to the side hall to discuss with the emperor. If the emperor cannot make up his mind for a while, the cabinet will discuss it.

When the emperor sat on the royal chariot, Wang Chengen, the eunuch with a pen, announced the start of the morning court on behalf of the emperor.

Liu Yuliang, the chief assistant of the cabinet, came out, holding a document and reading out the cabinet's deliberations on the deterioration of the situation in Shaanxi and the plundering of rogue bandits.

Sun Chuanting, the governor of Shandong and the censor of Youqiandu, was taken to the capital for questioning. Wu Xiang, the commander-in-chief of Shanhaiguan Pass, was taken to the capital for questioning. Wu Xiang's sergeants were transferred to Luoyang and placed under the control of Xiong Wencan, the governor of the five provinces. A series of cabinet decisions made

There was silence in the huge hall.

The difference is that Sun Chuanting was taken to the capital and interrogated by three judicial departments, while Wu Xiang was only interrogated by Dali Temple. There is a big difference here. The interrogation of three judicial departments represents a serious crime, and Sun Chuanting will definitely go to prison.

Wu Xiang had room for change.

In fact, when Liu Yuliang read out the cabinet's decision, Jin Yiwei had already left the capital for Zhuozhou and Xi'an Fucheng. At this moment, eight hundred miles of urgent documents were sent to Xi'an Fucheng and Zhuozhou. Once Jinyiwei was in Xi'an Fucheng and Zhuozhou,

After receiving the document, he immediately took control of Sun Chuanting and Wu Xiang to prevent any accidents, and waited for the Jin Yiwei from the capital to arrive before taking them away.

The emperor nodded and agreed to the decisions read out in the morning, but he would not issue an order for the time being. He would wait until the crimes of the punished officials were clear before issuing an order.

Liu Yuliang finished reading out the cabinet's decision, and no one raised any objections.

Such situations are very rare.

If someone raises objections to the handling of a certain official during the morning court, although the decision cannot be changed, it will have a considerable impact on the officials who specifically handle the matter. If it is the six ministers, the supervisory censor or the

If you raise objections to the matter, everyone will pay more attention to it. Who knows what the relationship behind these people is.

Some people have deep connections and are safe in the end even though they are locked up in Beijing. Some people are caught up in party disputes. When they are interrogated, it may lead to bickering between the two sides. Either they are safe or they are close to death.

.

From beginning to end, no one defended Sun Chuanting. It can be seen that Sun Chuanting had no foundation in the court. As for Wu Xiang, he was a military commander and did not have much status or influence in the court, so no one would pay attention to it.

...

At the end of the morning court, the emperor stood up and left the hall without saying a word. Such a situation was rare.

Soon, the cabinet ministers left the main hall and headed to the side hall collectively. Behind them were the Minister of Punishment and the Prime Minister of Dali Temple.

Zhu Youjian was already sitting and waiting in the side hall.

Many ministers had just stood firm when Zhu Youjian spoke.

"The rogue bandits are rampant in Shaanxi, Shanxi, Henan, Huguang and Sichuan. I dispatched the Liaodong frontier troops to enter the pass to exterminate the rogue bandits. I don't want to suffer a disastrous defeat and make the rogue bandits more arrogant. Seeing the deterioration of the situation in Shaanxi and the restlessness in other places, I am worried.

My dear friends, what can you do to completely wipe out the bandits and restore peace to the north and the Central Plains..."

Everyone lowered their heads and glanced at Liu Yuliang and Yang Sichang with a few rays of peripheral vision. This was a matter that the Chief Minister of the Cabinet and the Minister of War were considering. It had nothing to do with other people. No one would force themselves to speak first.

"Liu Aiqing, you are the chief minister of the cabinet. Please tell me what you think."

Liu Yuliang raised his head, cupped his fists and spoke to Zhu Youjian.

"Your Majesty, the cabinet has specially discussed this matter. I believe that the matters concerning the Shaanxi and Liaodong border troops need to be properly handled at the moment..."

"I know all this. I ask you how to exterminate the bandits, restore peace to the Central Plains, and restore peace to me."

Sweat dripped from Liu Yuliang's forehead. He never expected that the emperor would press him. In fact, he had already reported the entire process of the cabinet deliberations to the emperor yesterday. During this period, he did not forget to slightly "hack" Yang Sichang. As for how to deal with Shaanxi and others

Liu Yuliang really had not thought carefully about the situation on the ground. He believed that this fell within the scope of Yang Sichang's responsibilities.

"Your Majesty, my idea is to continue to mobilize the Denglai New Army and the Liaodong Frontier Army to enter the Central Plains to fight and completely wipe out the rogue bandits."

There was no expression on Zhu Youjian's face as he watched Liu Yuliang speak again.

"Wu Zongrui, the governor of Jiliao, specially wrote a memorial to comprehensively rectify the military affairs of Liaodong, so as to implement orders and prohibitions, so that the Denglai New Army and the Liaodong Frontier Army can better protect Liaodong and ensure the safety of the capital. I am very happy

I was pleased and approved Wu Aiqing's proposal. I ordered to dispatch 10,000 Liaodong border troops to enter the Shanhaiguan to fight. Wu Aiqing sent more than 20,000 troops, all of which entered Shaanxi to fight, which shows his loyalty. The cabinet discussed severely punishing Wu Xiang, the commander-in-chief of Shanhaiguan. I am still thinking about it.

How to tell Wu Aiqing, Liu Aiqing, since you think it is necessary to continue to mobilize the Denglai New Army and the Liaodong Frontier Army, then it is up to you to tell Wu Aiqing about this proposal..."

More drops of sweat appeared on Liu Yuliang's forehead, and he spoke in a panic.

"Your Majesty, I am stupid. How can I decide such a big thing? I just follow the Emperor's arrangements..."

"Liu Aiqing, you are the chief minister of the cabinet. If you can't decide important matters for me, why don't you let me do it for you?"

The side hall instantly became quiet. Liu Yuliang's body trembled slightly and he no longer dared to speak.

Zhu Youjian's eyes swept across Liu Yuliang and stopped in front of Yang Sichang.

"Wen Ruo, you are the Minister of War, tell me what you think."

Yang Sichang seemed much calmer. He was extremely dissatisfied with Sun Chuanting, the governor of Shaanxi. This time he found an opportunity and made a ruthless plot against Sun Chuanting. Although what he said was not so upright, his goal was finally achieved.

When Liu Yuliang was discussing matters in the cabinet, he suddenly proposed the dispatch of the Denglai New Army and the Liaodong Frontier Army again, which alarmed Yang Sichang and felt that it was definitely not that simple.

Two days later, Yang Sichang thought hard. He still had a basic understanding of the emperor. If the emperor really planned to deal with Wu Zongrui, he would never rely on the incompetent Liu Yuliang. That would be a bad thing. So Liu Yuliang proposed to continue to dispatch troops from Liaodong to enter the pass.

, there is only one possibility, this is the emperor testing Liu Yuliang's ability to handle important matters.

Judging from the situation just now, Liu Yuliang is obviously unqualified and is not the material to serve as the chief assistant of the cabinet at all.

"Your Majesty, I believe that the first step is to stabilize the situation between the DPRK and China and eliminate many negative discussions about the situation in Shaanxi. In fact, the situation in Shaanxi is not out of control and is still under control. The second step is to stabilize the civil and military officials at all levels in Shaanxi.

Their emotions made them diligent in their duties. During this period, the imperial court handled many matters in Shaanxi as quickly as possible. The third step was for Xiong Wencan, the governor of the five provinces of Yanling, to increase the intensity of annihilating the bandits and make comprehensive arrangements.

Curb the arrogant arrogance of the rogue bandits."

Zhu Youjian nodded slightly.

"If these things are done well and the situation in Shaanxi and other places is still unstable, what should we do?"

Yang Sichang also had slight drops of sweat on his forehead, and then he spoke.

"If such a situation occurs, I am willing to go to Shaanxi, Henan and other places to supervise the war."

A smile finally appeared on Zhu Youjian's face.
Chapter completed!