Chapter 415 The lurking new class
Li Chengliang’s letter was very simple, requesting the imperial court to send a senior official to Shandong to control civil and military affairs and coordinate the entire war situation in Shandong.
Although Gao Gong has always been wary of military leaders like Li Chengliang, he also admitted that Li Chengliang's suggestions were reasonable.
Having multiple political responsibilities is a taboo in administration, let alone on the battlefield.
Now there is a big three in Shandong, namely Wang Bengu, the commander of the three towns, Chen Yiqin, the governor of Shandong, and Han Ji, the governor of Shandong. These three people attack each other every month with memorials, and Su Ze's recently published "New Interpretations of Arithmetic" The arrangement and combination fit perfectly.
From time to time, Wang Bengu impeached Chen Yiqin and Han Ji, Chen Yiqin impeached Wang Bengu and Han Ji, and Han Ji impeached Wang Bengu and Chen Yiqin.
From time to time, Wang Bengu joined forces with Chen Yiqin to impeach Han Ji, Wang Bengu joined forces with Han Ji to impeach Chen Yiqin, and then Chen Yiqin and Han Ji jointly impeached Wang Bengu.
If this continues, Shandong itself will be divided, let alone attacking the southeast.
Li Chengliang's petition makes sense, but who can be sent to Shandong to convince everyone and direct this war?
This is where Li Chengliang has ulterior motives.
Yang Bo, the chief assistant of the cabinet? His qualifications and prestige are sufficient, and he is the chief minister of the cabinet, but he will definitely not agree to go.
Yang Bo is already the chief assistant, can he be promoted again if he wins? Promoted to deputy emperor?
If you lose, your reputation will be ruined for the rest of your life, and you will be dismissed from office or even be charged for it.
Although Yang Bo is the elder of the Paper Cabinet, it does not mean that he is indifferent to fame and fortune. It is just that he cannot compete for power and can only be used as the mascot of the cabinet.
Arching yourself?
Gao Gong is still advancing new affairs, and it is impossible to go to the Shandong front line at this time.
Moreover, Gao Gong also had a clear understanding of himself. He was indeed incapable of military affairs.
If you are not good at it, you are not good at it. Forcibly going to the Shandong front line to command an army with which you are not familiar, this will push the new army that the Ming court finally trained to destruction.
Li Chunfang, the fourth assistant in the cabinet, was able to join the cabinet by persuading the emperor to return to the capital. Neither his ability nor prestige were sufficient to serve as commander-in-chief.
Gao Gong missed Zhang Juzheng in Huguang.
Although Zhang Juzheng also had zero record against Southeast, and also lost Nanzhili and Wuchang one after another, Zhang Juzheng fought repeatedly and stabilized the situation in the confrontation between Huguang and Southeast.
Among the top brass of the Ming Dynasty, these people were already considered proficient in military affairs.
However, Zhang Juzheng remained in Huguang and could not move. It seemed that there was no one among the senior civil servants of the Ming Dynasty who could hold such a big post.
Then Li Chengliang is the best candidate to lead the entire army.
He is a priest of the Capital Military Academy, and the middle and high-level officers of the new army in these three towns are all his students. It is a suitable candidate to replace Wang Bengu as the commander of the three towns.
Li Chengliang managed Liaodong, and he obviously understood political affairs. With him presiding over the situation in Shandong, he could at least suppress all forces.
Li Chengliang was also the most experienced general in fighting against the Southeast. Although the Battle of Dagu was a disastrous defeat, it was also the battle with the largest number of casualties against the new Southeast Army in the history of the Ming Dynasty. Li Chengliang also summed up many new tactics for dealing with the Southeast.
Who in the entire capital is more suitable than Li Chengliang to lead the military and civilian affairs of Shandong?
You can't let the emperor personally conduct the expedition, right?
Then if an earthen fort is built, we can no longer support Zhu Yijun, right?
But Gao Gong was also keenly aware of Li Chengliang's hidden evil intentions under his personal ambition.
For example, some officials wrote a letter to impeach Li Chengliang, believing that his suggestion was just like setting up a state pastor at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and was an attempt to split the Ming Dynasty.
During the reign of Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty, in order to suppress peasant uprisings, the state pastor was re-established and his status was elevated to above that of the county governor, and he was in charge of the military and political power of a state.
It was also from this time that local careerists began to steal the position of state pastor and openly became a separatist force.
After the Anshi Rebellion, the Jiedushi envoys of the Tang Dynasty also used this method to separate themselves from one side.
Gao Gong knows very well that once power is delegated, it is difficult to take it back.
But what about today’s court?
The so-called "drinking poison to quench thirst" does not mean that you don't know that alcohol is poisonous, but that you have to drink it in order to survive.
"Mr. Gao Ge, Your Majesty has convened the ministers in the Wenhua Hall to discuss the war in Shandong."
An eunuch from the inner court walked to the cabinet, and Gao Gong dragged his tired body to the Wenhua Hall again.
After some controversy before the imperial court, Li Chengliang's suggestion was finally adopted by the Ming court.
Chen Yiqin, the governor of Shandong, and Han Ji, the governor of Shandong, were eliminated and were transferred back to the capital for other appointments.
A new position was re-established, Minister of the New Army, with the title of Shangshu of the Ministry of War, to control the troops and horses of the new army of the Ming Dynasty, and the title of governor was added to take charge of the civil affairs in the combat area, allowing local self-raising of food, grass and weapons.
However, at Gao Gong's insistence, the court did not give up its financial power. Local taxes had to be reported to the capital court before they could be used, and they were not allowed to withhold them without authorization.
The ministers also debated the choice of the new army minister for a long time in the court, and finally it was Ding Guogong Xu Wenbi who was elected.
This result can be said to be unexpected and reasonable.
Because Xu Wenbi, Duke of Dingguo, is now a plan acceptable to all parties in the court.
Xu Wenbi had the merit of escorting the emperor back to the capital. If it were not for his decision-making, the emperor would still be in Shaanxi and refused to come back, so Emperor Longqing trusted Xu Wenbi.
After returning from Shaanxi, Emperor Longqing not only renovated the Dingguo Palace and returned it to Xu Wenbi, but also rewarded him with gold and silver many times and invited Xu Wenbi to the palace to have a drink with him.
Xu Wenbi himself is a noble, and Duke Dingguo himself is a top noble. There is no problem with his rank. Although he is young, he always stood at the top of the civil and military ministers when he went to court. This is called " "He is the leader of the class."
Moreover, nobles and nobles are not the same. nobles from aristocratic families like Xu Wenbi have been fighting with civil servants for hundreds of years, and they know each other well. Civil servants are not afraid of them, and some nobles have even become Confucian.
In contrast, newly-rising military leaders like Li Chengliang were what civil servants were most wary of. Civil servants said that he was a vulgar savage from Liaodong.
And military generals like Li Chengliang also supported it. After all, Duke Dingguo was a distinguished military officer, and he was a noble general. What right did Li Chengliang have to object?
Xu Wenbi was awarded the title of Emperor's Festival, and Emperor Longqing also personally granted him a list of hundreds of people. He could be directly used in Shandong to appoint officials. After appointment and dismissal, he only needed to report the results to the officials in the capital. The highest rank he could be awarded was the ninth rank.
Because it was a taboo for military officials to change generals before battle, Wang Bengu, the commander of the three towns, was not removed from his post, but was placed under the command of Xu Wenbi, the minister of the New Army.
Xu Wenbi left the capital in a mighty manner and headed for Shandong with the emperor's loyalty.
The newspaper "Huangming Xinbao" controlled by the Ming court frantically reported on the news on the Shandong front line, and also boasted about Xu Wenbi, calling him the military god of the Ming Dynasty.
When Shen Guanyi came back from delivering books, he saw his uncle Shen Mingchen frowning at the article in "Huangming New News".
Shen Yiguan pulled up his chair and sat down. Shen Mingchen looked at his nephew and said worriedly: "A few days ago, you said that there were many military leaders in the east of Shandong, and it was a taboo for military strategists to fail to give orders. Today, Mingting sent Xu Wenbi to Shandong. The three towns are facing each other. First Brigade, we have no advantage in the southeast." Shen Yiguan brought tea and said calmly: "Uncle, your worries are completely unnecessary. It's okay if you send other people. Don't you know who Xu Wenbi is? ?"
Shen Mingchen couldn't help laughing.
Shen's uncle and nephew knew very well what kind of virtues these nobles of the Ming Dynasty had.
Xu Wenbi's performance was slightly more outstanding among the nobles, but he was only better than others, and he was far from being a famous general in the world.
Xu Wenbi's biggest contribution before was to use the red-helmed imperial army to force the emperor to return to the capital.
Shen Yiguan said: "Among the capital, the one who really knows the military is Li Chengliang, but for now, it is impossible for Gao Suqing to use him." Shen Mingchen nodded and said: "Gao Suqing and Li Chengliang have their own prejudices, and he will definitely not use Li Chengliang.
"
Shen Yiguan shook his head and said: "Uncle, Gao Suqing's refusal to use Li Chengliang is not a personal grudge. Gao Suqing has never suppressed others because of personal grudges." Shen Mingchen thought for a while and nodded. Although the current Gao Ge elder has a bit of a temper
. , He works a little more fiercely, but one thing that is recognized by both the government and the public is that he is truly meritocratic and has no selfish motives.
Regardless of whether they are political allies or political opponents, as long as they are really good for the Ming Dynasty, Gao Gong will not hesitate to promote them.
This was rare among the auxiliary ministers of the Ming Dynasty. Not to mention that Gao Gong was also the official and the minister of household affairs. He was very powerful among the auxiliary ministers of the past dynasties.
Shen Yiguan said: "Li Chengliang is different from those nobles. He gave up the reward and insisted on being a sacrificial wine for the Capital Military Academy. This shows his ambition." Shen Mingchen asked in surprise: "What ambition does he have?
"
Shen Yiguan shook his head and said, "You can't tell yet, but I'm afraid it's not as simple as being a mere military leader with real power." Shen Mingchen took a breath and said, "He wants to usurp the truth?" "I'm afraid I don't think so
now
. But there is no doubt that he wants to change the situation of emphasizing civility over military affairs." "
First, Li Chengliang must bypass Gao Gong and control the new army in the three towns."
Shen Mingchen said: "This is difficult, Gao Suqing still has methods. Today, Xu Wenbi was brought up to control the new recruits in the three towns. This is indeed a result that all parties in the Ming court can accept." "
And I heard that Xu Wenbi is a soft-tempered person, and Wang Bengu, the commander of the three towns, is quite capable in leading troops. , these two people are a good combination."
Shen Yiguan shook his head and said: "Uncle, although I don't know how to lead troops to fight, what is the biggest role of the army? It is to fight and win the war." "Gao Suqing balances the court
. He is capable, but the army is not a place for balance."
"Wang Bengu is too stubborn and too strict. Xu Wenbi is frivolous, has no experience in large-scale united operations, and does not understand how the new army practices operations." "In the end. The important
thing is that the new troops in the three towns are all students of Li Chengliang, and Shandong is going to be lively now."
Shen Mingchen still had some subtle feelings for the Ming court. He sighed and said: "This Ming Dynasty is still hard to come back after all." Shen Mingchen was
always cold . He said coldly: "Is there any dynasty in the world that will last forever? It would be a good time to die."
When Shen's uncle and nephew were discussing Li Chengliang, he was having a banquet in the mansion.
This time the banquet was hosted by military attachés from Bian Town who were serving as officials in the capital. Li Chengliang had often invited these military generals to private banquets since he served as the sacrificial wine minister of the military preparation school in the capital.
In the past, Yan Guan Yushi would definitely impeach him crazily, but in today's world, Li Chengliang's small extraordinary behavior would have long since attracted Yan Guan's attention.
Li Chengliang became more and more bold. Today he invited not only generals related to the Capital Military Academy, but also generals from Xuanfu and Datong who came to the capital to serve as officials.
When the Xuanfu came to the throne, these military generals were all ministers of the Dragon and had merits in supporting the establishment. Therefore, after Emperor Longqing returned to the capital, he recalled them to the capital to hold important positions.
But these officers were not happy for long. With the establishment of the Capital Military Academy and Gao Gong's training of the new army, they were quickly marginalized.
The New Army is the army with the best treatment in the capital. In order to supply the New Army, the treatment of other armies has dropped a lot.
Although the capital is more prosperous than Jiubian, it is not easy to live in the capital, and you need to be rich to live in the capital.
The general soldiers of Xuanfu and the general soldiers of Datong, who were old ministers from the dragon, were supported by high-ranking officials and generous salaries, so they could naturally have fun in the capital.
But life for these ordinary middle- and lower-level officers is not so easy.
Since Gao Gong implemented the new service, the salary of these officers of the old army has been further reduced, and they even have fewer opportunities to earn free pay.
Li Chengliang was the principal of the new military school while making friends with these old officers. After the banquet, Li Chengliang returned to the bedroom drunkenly with the help of the housekeeper.
After entering the bedroom, Li Chengliang immediately woke up. He said to the figure in the bedroom:
"How is the situation on the front line?"
The person who came was none other than Li Ruzhen, who served as the battalion captain in the first town of the New Army.
Li Ruzhen disguised himself and secretly ran back to the capital from the Shandong front line to deliver confidential news between Li Chengliang and his son.
"Returning to my godfather, after the battle from Jeju City, Wang Tongzhi ordered the army to march quickly, but refused to enter the city to rest. The towns were dissatisfied." Li Chengliang nodded and said: "Although Wang Bengu is an honest and upright official
, But he is also harsh on his subordinates. It is ridiculous that these civil servants actually think that he can lead the army well." "
Wang Bengu still used the same method of leading troops by civil servants, using authority to establish discipline, and then using military discipline to suppress people. It is a pity that this One set will not last long in the New Army."
Li Ruzhen looked at Li Chengliang doubtfully. He had become literate recently, but he still couldn't understand this level of struggle.
Li Chengliang said: "You go back and tell the young master that Wang Bengu acted domineeringly and did not keep his word. When Hu Zongxian was fighting against the Japanese, he killed the Japanese leader Wang Zhi who was surrendered by Hu Zongxian." "After Xu Wenbi arrived in the army
, Use this to cause trouble and squeeze Wang Bengu away."
Li Rushu quickly put his body on the ground and said respectfully: "Yes!"
When Li Rushu retreated, he rushed back to Shandong to report the news.
Li Chengliang squinted his eyes. When did his ambition sprout?
He lit the whale oil lamp and opened the "New Commentary on the Three Classics" on the table.
Li Chengliang is not highly educated, but Su Ze rarely loses his book bag when writing this book, and the content is easy to understand.
Li Chengliang was not interested in the people-oriented ideas in the book, but he was very interested in the part that restricted the power of the monarch.
(End of chapter)