Chapter 218 Wang Pu’s weakness

Nanjing Imperial City, Fengtian Hall.

Crown Prince Zhu Cilang officially ascended the throne and changed the reign of Longwu, with next year as the first year of Longwu. From now on, he is no longer Crown Prince Zhu Cilang, but Zhu Cilang, Emperor Longwu of the Ming Dynasty.

The first major event of Emperor Longwu ascended the throne was to order all ministers to promote the auxiliary ministers of the cabinet.

The so-called push is to let ministers recommend talented people to join the cabinet to assist in the government. This is actually democratic elections, and it is a real democratic election. Of course, it does not mean that democratic elections must be fair and fair. In fact, there is no real justice in this world. Fair democratic elections, and the so-called democratic elections also have dark corners.

For example, the meeting was promoted in the early years of Chongzhen. Originally, the call for the Donglin Party member Qian Qianyi to join the cabinet was very high, which could be said to be a popular expectation. However, Wen Tiren and Zhou Yanru pulled Qian Qianyi off the horse on the grounds of "a gentleman's disagreement". As a result, Qian Qianyi lost his post and abandoned his post and demoted him to Changshu. Wen Tiren and Zhou Yanru successively took over the position of chief minister of the cabinet.

Zhang Zi'an waved the whisk when he was holding his hand and sang sharply: "Today, the court will discuss with you, the ministers will promote the auxiliary ministers of the cabinet."

As soon as he finished speaking, Qian Qianyi left the class and knelt down at Danqiu and said loudly: "I think Mr. Sun has both moral integrity and talent, and has made contributions to the decision, so he can be the chief assistant of the cabinet."

As Qian Qianyi finished speaking, Donglin Party members Lu Daqi, Zhang Pu, Wu Yingji and others also came out to discuss the matter.

When Shi Kefa proposed to add Nanjing officials last time, a large number of Donglin Party members were added to the Six Ministry of Nanjing, the Censorate and the Kedaoya. Although most of these Donglin Party members had humble officials, Qian Qianyi, the highest official title, was just a minister of the Ministry of Rites, but there were many people. As the saying goes, there were many Taoists, and a large number of people fell down suddenly, which was undoubtedly very influential.

Ma Shiying, Gao Hongtu, Jiang Yueguang and other ministers showed shock. They did not expect that the people of Donglin Fushe would actually recommend Sun Chuanting to the cabinet! Because Shi Kefa and Donglin Fushe have always been close to each other, they thought that the people of Donglin Fushe would definitely recommend Shi Kefa to the cabinet. With Donglin Fushe's powerful force in the Nanjing officialdom, they even believed that Shi Kefa would be the chief minister of the cabinet.

Shi Kefa, who was standing in the head of the civil servant class, could not help but feel a little disappointed. He felt that he had been betrayed by the people of Donglin Fushe.

However, Sun Chuanting was still humble and hurriedly left the squad to kneel down on Danqi, and replied: "The old minister was talented and knowledgeable, so he was not enough to join the cabinet to take charge of the government."

Sun Chuanting was humble, but no one responded.

Seeing that no one had different opinions for a while, Emperor Longwu said in a slightly immature voice: "The late emperor once told me that he left me two capable ministers, one civil and one martial, for the sake of reliance. Sun Aiqing is the civil minister mentioned by the late emperor! Since all the ministers think that Sun Aiqing can be the chief minister of the cabinet, this is something that everyone hopes, Sun Aiqing, don't refuse."

Sun Chuanting raised Yafeng and said loudly: "The old minister is frightened."

Although Sun Chuanting was frightened, everyone knew what he meant was to agree. Emperor Longwu said happily: "The chief minister of the cabinet is Sun Aiqing. All the ministers can elect a few more wise ministers to jointly manage the cabinet with Sun Aiqing."

As Emperor Longwu finished speaking, Sun Chuanting raised his teeth and said, "The old minister thought that Lord Qian and Lord Lv were praised in Jiangnan, and were both virtuous and capable, and could be the auxiliary minister of the cabinet."

As Sun Chuanting finished speaking, Ma Shiying and Shi Kefa's expression changed.

The choice of the cabinet chief minister is undoubtedly very important. Even the late emperor must carefully consider the candidates proposed by the cabinet chief minister. Today, he is still young, so he must pay more attention to the opinions of the cabinet chief minister. This matter is basically Sun Chuanting.

Sun Chuanting said that if Qian Qianyi and Lu Daqi were allowed to enter the cabinet, they would be almost the same two people. There was basically no Shi Kefa, and Ma Shiying had nothing to do. Although the two were dissatisfied, they were not able to openly raise objections, because they were also officials with high calls for entering the cabinet and had to avoid suspicion.

Gao Hongtu was even more angry and his face turned pale. When he first supported the new king, he was in the same camp as Sun Chuanting. He thought that Sun Chuanting would become the chief minister of the cabinet and would let him enter the cabinet anyway. But what he never expected was that Sun Chuanting actually recommended Qian Qianyi and Lu Daqi!

In fact, it was agreed by Wang Pu and Sun Chuanting to let Qian Qianyi enter the cabinet in advance, because Qian Qianyi and Lu Daqi had a handle in Wang Pu's hands, and they had to listen to Wang Pu's words, so they could only serve as Sun Chuanting's voice-over in the cabinet. This ensured the unification of the pace of the cabinet and would not have any differences of opinions on major policies and strategies.

The cabinet team was settled like this.

Although Ma Shiying, Shi Kefa and Gao Hongtu were dissatisfied and even angry, they had no choice but to do anything, because Sun Chuanting was already the chief minister of the cabinet, and most of the officials in the court were Donglin Party members. What's the use of relying on their opposition? Even if they put forward their opinions, no one would agree, and it was just a boring thing to make things happen.

The newly formed cabinet showed rare efficiency, and in the afternoon of that day, the list of the Six Ministry officials and the Censorate Censors was formulated:

Minister of Rites: Sun Chuanting

Minister of Rites: Qian Qianyi, Lv Daqi (According to convention, the cabinet minister must be Minister of Rites or Minister of Rites)

Secretary of History: Sun Chuanting

Minister of War: Shi Kefa

Minister of Revenue: Gao Hongtu

Minister of Justice: Gao Zhuo

Minister of Works: Ma Shiying

The Censor of the Censorate: Liu Zongzhou

Right Censor of the Censorate: Wang Duo

In addition to drafting the candidates for the Six Ministry and the Censorate of the Censorate, the cabinet also drafted a list of promotions for military generals.

Zuo Liangyu is Ning Nanbo

Gao Jie is Xingpingbo

Liu Liangzuo is Guangchang Bo

Liu Zeqing is Dongping Bo

Wang Pu was the Marquis of Jingnan and was the admiral of the military affairs of the five provinces of Nanzhi, Zhejiang, Fujian, Huguang and Jiangxi. Zuo Liangyu, Gao Jie, Liu Liangzuo and Liu Zeqing were all controlled by him.

Zuo Liangyu's general Jin Shengyuan, Lu Guangzu, Li Guoyong, Xu Yong, and Hao Xiaozhong were the generals

Gao Jie's general Li Benshen, Gao Jinku, Li Chengdong, and Wu Shengzhao are generals

Liu Liangzuo’s general Ma Degong, Tian Xiong was the general

Liu Zeqing, generals Liu Konghe, Liu Hongji, and Li Huajing were the generals

Wang Pu, general Scarface, Zhao Xin, Tang Sheng, Monk Zhang, and Huang Degong are the generals

Tianjin Wei, Rebel Army Camp.

All the soldiers of the rebel army were dressed in mourning, with white mourning, all the flags were replaced with white strips, and the spear was tied with white cloth strips. From a distance, the school ground seemed to be covered with ice and snow.

The Red Lady was wearing a mourning clothes and a white cloth on her head, and she had become a white Lady.

Behind the Hongniang, Li Hu and Jing Maocheng held a white cloth banner. On the banner was a blood letter written by Hongniang in the blood of Li Yi and the other two: Avenge your husband and kill the thieves!

Facing the thousands of rebel soldiers who were silently under the parade, Hong Madam swept away the grievance and sadness of Li Yan and became murderous. Her bright and charming eyes were filled with deep hatred at this moment, and a look of determination was revealed on the delicate face of Shishuang Saixue.

"The thief is in power and harms the loyal and kind!" Hong Madam's voice was still so nice, but his tone showed a cold murderous aura. " Such a stubborn monarch is not worthy of our loyalty to him. My Hong Madam today swore in front of the soldiers of the three armies, killing the thief to death and avenge his deceased husband!"

"Avenge your brother!"

"Avenge the general!"

Li Hu and Jing Maocheng roared at the same time.

"Avenge the general!"

"Avenge the general!"

"Avenge the general!"

Under the parade, thousands of rebel soldiers responded with three calls.

These thousands of people were soldiers pulled out by Li Yan from Qi County, Henan Province. They were loyal to Li Yan than Li Zicheng. Now that Li Zicheng has killed Li Yan, they of course have to follow the Hongniang to commit Li Zicheng's rebellion.

Nanjing, Yanziji Camp.

When Wang Pu brought military secretary Liu Rushi to the signing room, intelligence secretary Liu Qingyan had been waiting for him for a long time. Seeing Wang Pu and Liu Rushi coming in and out, a hint of jealousy rose in Liu Qingyan's beautiful eyes.

However, this jealousy flashed and disappeared. The demon girl Liu Qingyan quickly regained her charming expression. She first threw a charming look at Wang Pu and said, "Mr. Prince Concubine, something big happened in the north."

Wang Pu said: "What big thing happened?"

Liu Qingyan said: "A bad news, a good news, do you want to listen to bad news first or good news first?"

"Good news." Wang Pu said, "Of course you will hear the good news first."

Liu Qingyan said: "The good news is that Li Yan is dead. The Red Girl you have longed for is now a young widow."

"Cough..." Wang Pu said embarrassedly, "What good news is this?"

"Why isn't it good news?" Liu Qingyan said charmingly, "Do you know how Li Yan died?"

Wang Pu said: "How did you die?"

Liu Qingyan said: "It was killed by the thief."

"Oh?" Wang Pu said in surprise, "The thief really killed Li Yan?"

"Isn't that true?" Liu Qingyan said, "Now the Hong Madam has already put forward the banner to kill the thieves to avenge Li Yan. Is this good news for you, the prince-consort?"

"For sure, of course." Wang Pu nodded and asked again, "Where is the bad news?"

Liu Qingyan straightened his face and said solemnly: "The bad news is that Wu Sangui has led Jiannu into the pass and defeated the thief in a stone. Now Wu Sangui is joining forces with Jiannu to advance to Beijing. News also came from the entrance of Beijing that yesterday morning, Li Zicheng had ascended the throne in the Huangji Palace and led his army to flee Beijing yesterday afternoon!"

"flat!"

Wang Pu slapped the table and said angrily: "Wu Sangui, I didn't expect that this traitor would still lead Jiannu into the pass!"

Liu Qingyan said with a serious expression: "Things may be worse than we expected."

Wang Pu Ning said in a voice: "What do you say?"

Liu Qingyan said: "Wu Sangui is fighting to restore the Ming Dynasty and avenge the late emperor. Jiannu is just a foreign soldier he borrowed in name. The forces of the ancient Ming who do not know the truth may be used by Jiannu!"

Liu Rushi's fair pink face also showed a solemn expression, and he whispered: "Once this news reaches Jiangnan, if you support Wu Sangui, there are probably many people who welcome Jiannu into the pass. Some corrupt officials in the court may also propose to fight against the bandits with Jiannu. Speaking of which, there were precedents in the Tang Dynasty to use Uighur soldiers to quell the Anshi Rebellion."

"Jiannu is not an Uighur!" Wang Pu said in a deep voice, "Uighurs have no ambitions for the Central Plains, but Jiannu has the intention to destroy our China!"

"Then we can only take the initiative." Liu Rushi's beautiful eyes focused on Wang Pu, and said, "Using the powerful influence of Donglin Fushe in Jiangnan to spread news from the people, saying that Wu Sangui had secretly surrendered to slaves. The Jiannu army entered the pass this time, and it was not just about eliminating the bandits for our Ming Dynasty."

Liu Rushi's preemptive action is amazing. As long as the people of Jiangnan have preconceived understanding, they will no longer be deceived by Jiannu's "teacher of benevolence and righteousness".

"Okay." Wang Pu Xinran said, "That's it!"

Liu Rushi said again: "The bandits were defeated and were killed. First, they killed Li Yan, then retreated from the capital. Wu Sangui led the Jiannu army into the pass, and the situation in the north became even more turbulent."

"There are turbulent?" Wang Pu shook his head and said, "Not necessarily. As you said just now, Wu Sangui led Jiannu to the Pass to fight to restore the Ming Dynasty and avenge the late emperor. It is very deceptive. The ancient Ming forces in the five northern provinces are like Jiang Xiang, the general of Datong, and Tang Tong, the general of Miyun, are afraid that they will turn against each other overnight!"

Liu Rushi nodded and said, "This is very likely."
To be continued...