Volume 1: Birth! Seven time travelers Chapter 010: My Yuan Cong Team (Part 2)
"Your Highness, Li Chengliang, pays respect to His Majesty the Emperor."
"Hey, Ruqi, you are already old, no need to be so polite. Someone, bring a stool over for Earl Ningyuan."
"Your Majesty is so kind to me, I am so grateful!"
While the cabinet elders were discussing finding a teacher for Zhu Youdong, Emperor Wanli also called back Li Chengliang, who was 78 years old and was stationed in Liaodong.
This was of course Zhu Youdong's idea.
In the historical plane, Li Chengliang was stationed in Liaodong twice. During the early period of guarding, on the one hand, he was still young and had a strong desire to make achievements. On the other hand, at that time, he had Zhang Juzheng, Shen Shixing, Wang Xijue and others as his backers, and any mad dog who dared to criticize him would be dealt with by the elders. And Qi Jiguang supported him in various ways. Therefore, during his first guarding of Liaodong, he lived a comfortable life and did a lot of things in a down-to-earth manner. This state continued until he was impeached and dismissed in 1591.
In 1601, when Ma Lin, the general of Liaodong, was impeached and dismissed, Li Rusong had died in battle before, and Liaodong could not find a prestigious general for a while. So the chief minister Shen Yikuan recommended Li Chengliang to go to Liaodong again.
History has proven that arranging Li Chengliang to govern Liaodong this time was the beginning of disaster for the Ming Dynasty.
As people age, their passion, enterprising spirit, striving spirit, and pioneering spirit fade away. Instead, they are often replaced by conservatism, consideration of the interests of future generations, and the inevitable stupidity caused by the decline of physical functions.
Specifically for Li Chengliang, he had been well protected by the bigwigs of the court in his early years, so he had been smooth sailing. When Shen Shixing, Wang Xijue and others fell quickly because of the dispute over the foundation of the country, he was implicated by a guy like Zhang Heming and sat on the bench for ten years. Therefore, after he was sent to Liaodong again, his ideas changed completely.
It can be said that in the historical plane, the seven or eight years from 1601 to 1608 were the golden period for the development of Nurhaci, Li Chengliang's household slave. Li Chengliang moved the Han people near the Jianzhou Jurchens away and sent troops to attack the Yehe tribe, the biggest enemy of the Jianzhou Jurchens. This allowed Nurhaci to quickly become powerful...
My task is so heavy and time is so tight, how can I let the Jiannu hold me back?
However, Zhu Youdong was only four years old. Even if he performed amazingly in front of Wanli, it was absolutely impossible for him to ask Wanli to transfer Li Chengliang , a .
Therefore, the only way to save the country is to take a roundabout way: Grandfather Emperor, didn't you ask your grandson to make a request? Then the first request of my grandson is, please let the most famous commander of the Ming Dynasty, Earl Li Chengliang, be my teacher!
This request really made Wanli very embarrassed.
The forces that threaten the survival of the Central Plains regime have always come from the north. Specifically at this point in time, after more than two hundred years of accumulated military, economic, and cultural attacks, Mongolia in the north has declined and split into pieces. However, the Jurchens in the northeast seem to be on the rise. Therefore, the current border defense pressure of the Ming Dynasty is mainly in the northeast. For the education of the crown prince, the country's most important border defense generals were withdrawn. If something happens in the future, who will be responsible?
Besides, the Li family is a super landlord and military leader in Liaodong. They have tens of thousands of servants under their command. You just want to transfer them back?
Moreover, when did military officers get involved in the education of the princes in the Ming Dynasty? If Li Chengliang had not been granted the title of Earl of Ningyuan, it would have been almost impossible for a military officer to meet the emperor alone when he was not on a military expedition!
After all, he is a time traveler, and although his understanding of the general trend of history is far better than that of this era, when it comes to specific practical matters, Zhu Youdong's considerations are definitely not as thorough as Wanli's.
"The main reason I invited Ruqi back this time is that I haven't seen him for a long time. I am very relieved to see that he is in such good health."
"Your Majesty, I am deeply moved by your concern!"
"Well, Ruqi, what is the current situation in Liaodong?"
"Your Majesty, please rest assured that the border defense problem in Liaodong mainly lies with the Jurchens. In recent years, the Jianzhou Jurchens have been very submissive, and the four tribes of the Haixi Jurchens have suffered repeated heavy blows. As for the wild Jurchens, they are far away from our Ming Dynasty, so there is no need to worry about them."
"Well... the Jianzhou Jurchens have been submissive over the years, but Ruqi must pay attention to the balance between the Jurchen tribes in Liaodong. We cannot neglect the Jianzhou Jurchens just because they are submissive."
"I obey your order. Please rest assured, Your Majesty. I have always kept in mind the saying that those who are not of my race must have different hearts."
"Haha, that's good . Ruqi, you are seventy-eight this year, right?"
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for remembering my age."
"Well, I didn't expect that the Earl of Ningyuan, who was once so powerful in Liaodong, is now an octogenarian."
"Your Majesty, although I am old, I can still..."
"Hey..." Wanli stretched out his hand and interrupted Li Chengliang 's words, saying: "The Li family has been generals for generations, and they are one of the pillars of my Ming Dynasty. Alas, if my beloved general Zimao had not been killed in battle, he would be 55 years old now."
"I thank the emperor for remembering my son. If Rusong were alive today, he would be 55 years old."
"Ruqi, please accept my condolences. You have more sons than I do. Well, not counting Zimao, there are eight of them."
"Haha, I am ashamed."
"How old is your youngest son?"
"My ninth son, Runan, is eighteen years old this year."
"Where's your eldest grandson?"
"Well, I am terrified. My eldest grandson, Shizhong, is thirty-two years old this year."
"Hahaha~~ Ruqi, I won't beat around the bush. To tell you the truth, my grandson Zhu Youdong plans to start formal school next year. I need some sons of important officials to serve as guards for the grandson. Your eldest grandson is a little too old, but your youngest son is just the right age. Let this child transfer to the Jinyiwei and give him the rank of a hundred households first. What do you think? Are you willing to do that?"
"If the Crown Prince needs it, why would I be reluctant to do it? But Your Majesty, I have to tell you the truth. I was sixty years old when I got Runan, so I spoiled him since he was young. Now he is eighteen years old, but he is not even proficient in archery and horse riding. Compared with his brothers, he is a disgrace to our Li family. Therefore, if you want the Crown Prince's guards, why not let my eldest grandson serve him?"
"This... Ruqi, the Crown Prince is only four years old this year."
"In the service of His Majesty, I will not think about those useless things."
"Okay! Ruqi, in addition to selecting guards for the crown prince, I also need to find a tutor for him. As for the tutor, the inner study hall of the palace will select one or two smart eunuchs. In addition, one or two young men of the right age from the Duke of Ying and the Duke of Cheng will also be selected. But I also want to find a suitable age among your descendants."
"I, your Majesty, would like to thank you for your love and care. I have a grandson named Chunzhong, who is six years old this year. He is about the same age as the Crown Prince and can be his study companion."
"Haha, good. Ruqi, I see that although you are energetic, you are old after all. Although Liaodong cannot be without you for a moment. But how can a man who is old not have children to take care of him? I will send Rubai to Liaodong to be a lieutenant general. In this way, he can take care of you nearby."
"Your grace is so great that I am moved to tears. I will serve Your Majesty till my death!"
