Volume 2: Residence in the Capital Chapter 242: Kindness is not a good thing
Zhu Tingfang regretted why he went straight back to the mansion as soon as he came back. You know, he just wanted to see who Zhang Shou, the country boy who made his sister Zhu Ying fall in love with him at first sight, was. He was not only favored by his grandmother and stepmother, but also trusted and valued by the emperor, and even made those playboys who only knew how to enjoy themselves look at him in awe.
If he had not returned home, his sister Zhu Ying would not have discovered his weakness, his stepmother would not have noticed the injuries on his body, and he would not have been stripped of his outer robe by his stepmother under the stern but concerned gaze of his grandmother, and he would not have been almost ordered to confess the truth.
If he had not returned home, he would not have been forced to accept the fact that Zhu Ying and Zhang Shou entered the palace together just because Zhang Shou spoke up to help him out.
As the future heir of the Zhaoguo Mansion, he often entered the palace, but at this moment, he was able to enter without waiting for a reply from the palace after reporting his intention at the Donghua Gate. He knew very well that it was because of Zhu Ying. Although the emperor was his cousin in terms of blood relationship, they were actually the monarch and his subject. He could never be as casual and casual in front of the emperor as Zhu Ying.
After walking a short distance from Donghua Gate, they passed by the area where the cabinet was located. Although all government offices were sealed now, and there was only one cabinet elder and two secretaries on duty in the cabinet, and there was no longer the hustle and bustle of the past, the three of them still happened to bump into a senior official from the cabinet.
That was none other than Mr. Wu, who was always known as a good man.
Upon seeing the three people, Wu Ge Lao was stunned at first, then he smiled and shouted: "Young Master Zhu is back? Good luck will come to you. It's no wonder that the Queen Mother has bought a long-burning lamp in the Buddhist temple for you and personally copied several volumes of scriptures for you. The Emperor has also been talking about you for days."
It was the first time that Zhu Tingfang heard that the Empress Dowager and the Emperor were so concerned about his safety, so he was about to say a few words of gratitude from the bottom of his heart. But he didn't expect that after Wu Ge Lao nodded at him with a smile, he actually looked at Zhang Shou and said, "Dr. Zhang, your students are really amazing. Yesterday, some of them even discussed their homework together? They are so hardworking that many people are ashamed!"
Hearing someone say that Zhang Shou's students were diligent again, and that this person was a cabinet minister, Zhu Tingfang believed it even though he had doubts before. But he couldn't help asking, "Are they the poor students who studied the arithmetic in Jiuzhang Hall?"
"Haha, it's natural for those poor people to work hard, I don't need to say anything. It's because many of those hardworking guys were once famous for being unsuccessful in the capital that I can't help but sigh. Of course, not everyone is like this, but even if there are only a dozen hardworking people in Banshan Hall, it's already rare."
Seeing that Lord Wu was looking at him with a smile while speaking, Zhang Shou glanced at Zhu Ying beside him. Seeing that the eldest lady had a proud look on her face, he couldn't help but think to himself, it is not surprising to get good students to study hard, but in order to get poor students to study hard, of course you have to put a bait in front of them.
When he assigned the homework, he had already said that everyone should work together and pool their wisdom. The group that completed the homework well would get a chance to practice. For those who had stayed in Cuiyun Room, the hint was clear: the Duke of Zhao and he would jointly fund a talent development plan tailored for the entire group.
Including but not limited to Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu, who only opened a small weaving and dyeing workshop, but were directly asked by the emperor... Of course, it also includes marriage. I don't know how Zhu Ying persuaded the lady, and the lady agreed to act as a matchmaker for those guys who turned over a new leaf.
Of course, as for the investment from Duke Zhao's Mansion, it would be more accurate to say that it was the result of Zhu Ying directly making an advance payment for the two dowry shops.
However, Zhu Tingfang didn't know the mystery. When he went to see Zhang Shou, he found that he and Zhu Ying looked at each other with affection in their eyes. He immediately felt even more nervous. So he forgot to praise the emperor according to what Wu Ge Lao had just said. He hurriedly said a few perfunctory words and wanted to leave. Who knew that Wu Ge Lao would take the initiative to come forward.
"That's great. I have something to ask the Emperor. Let's go to Qianqing Gate together!"
Similar to the talkative Wu Zhongshu, Wu Ge Lao is also a very talkative person. At least with such a person around, there is no need to worry about dull occasions, because he can connect everyone with various topics.
Zhu Ying was a talkative person, and Zhang Shou was also very talkative, so Zhu Tingfang, who was not good at speaking... or rather, he did not like to talk much, but preferred to do more things, unconsciously participated in various topics. When he arrived at Qianqing Gate unknowingly, he found that his initial picky consciousness towards Zhang Shou had faded a lot.
Think about it carefully, a boy who grew up in the countryside can still talk and laugh with Wu, the best-tempered elder among all the elders. At least he doesn't have to worry about the other party's background which is too incompatible with Zhu Ying. However, it is still not enough to make him admit that a noble son came from a poor family.
In the past, when Zhu Ying came, it would usually be the sharp-eyed palace maids or eunuchs who saw her and ran in to report, and no one would stop her. But today, with the addition of Wu Ge Lao, Zhu Tingfang and Zhang Shou, Zhu Ying politely waited with them at the Qianqing Gate. After a while, Liu Feng, the manager of the Qianqing Palace, came out like a gust of wind to greet her.
This eunuch, who was one of the best in the palace, no longer dared to take chances. He smiled at Zhang Shou and politely invited everyone into the Palace of Heavenly Purity - even though according to the rules, these people with different purposes should meet the emperor in batches. Sure enough, as soon as he entered the Palace of Heavenly Purity, he heard the emperor's voice.
"Since we are here, we are not outsiders. Come in together!"
If it was the strong-willed Prime Minister Jiang Ge Lao, or the soft-spoken Second Minister Kong Daxueshi, they would have definitely expressed their opinions and pointed out the inappropriateness of hearing this, but Wu Ge Lao once again showed his good-natured personality and said with a smile: "I don't have anything important to do. But Master Zhu, you are a general who just returned to the capital. You can speak first. I am also waiting to hear about the previous battle situation."
Zhu Ying also rushed to say, "Brother, when he returned to Beijing, he should have done business first and private things second, but he was worried about me and the elders at home, so he went home first. He was so exhausted from the journey that he didn't even have time to drink a sip of water when he got home, so grandma and mother were worried, so Ah Shou and I came with him. Brother, don't be so careless in front of the emperor later, I want to report everything you said to grandma!"
Zhu Tingfang didn't have time to say anything before he was pushed to the front by the crowd. He could only smile bitterly. According to his original intention, he didn't want to exaggerate the previous thrills and hardships, but after entering the East Warm Pavilion, he had just paid his respects when he heard a bang from the top. It turned out that the emperor slapped the armrest heavily.
"Good job, Zhu Tingfang, you finally came back safe and sound! Stop the empty formalities and tell me what happened in that battle where you claimed to have suffered a great defeat and even the people disappeared!"
Knowing that the emperor had this kind of temper, Zhu Tingfang could only calm down and said, "Your Majesty, this is my first time going to war and I have no experience. Even if it is a small army, it is not my turn to lead it. But at that time, because all the scouts were killed, even those herdsmen near the border wall turned against us and robbed and killed our army. There were even illegal merchants who smuggled contraband to the outside of the Great Wall and colluded with the northern barbarians. The army was in a mess..."
He paused, and saw Zhu Ying staring at him intently, with a puzzled look on her face, while Zhang Shou showed a thoughtful expression, and the usually smiling Wu Ge Lao's face was no longer smiling. He knew that although his sister had not yet reacted, Zhang Shou and Wu Ge Lao had clearly guessed something. As for the emperor... that face with a faint smile, he had never seen through it.
After taking a deep breath, he said in a deep voice: "Father summoned all his generals to discuss matters. He found that there were many soldiers on the mountaintops and no one was willing to fight. So he secretly gave me a task. He asked me to pretend that I couldn't stand the provocation and signed a military order, and then lead the troops to fight. In fact... in fact, I was acting as bait."
Zhu Ying suddenly felt cold all over and her face turned pale. She thought she would yell loudly, asking how could her father be so cruel and heartless, but the words were stuck in her throat and she couldn't say them until she felt someone gently holding her hand. She turned her head and saw that it was Zhang Shou, and then she felt her body gradually warm up.
Wu Ge Lao did not say anything about the Duke of Zhao being bold, but remained completely silent. The emperor could not help but tap the armrest with his fingers, and after a long while he sighed and said, "Your father has not been in charge of the army for many years. In addition, although the general of Datong was dismissed, his former generals are still intertwined. No wonder he actually set his sights on his own son!"
The emperor stood up suddenly and walked directly to Zhu Tingfang. "It is true that a kind person cannot command an army, but your father never thought that he has a capable son like you, and it is too early to wait for your second brother to be trained! What would he do if something happened to you? What would the Duke of Zhao do? Has he ever thought about how sad your grandmother would be?"
Zhu Tingfang lowered his head slightly, and then said in a deep voice: "Father said that it's not just his son who is taking risks, but also other people's fathers, sons, brothers, and younger brothers... Since he is risking other people's lives, he can't let his son stay in a safe place. Besides me, the other generals he brought with him all have their own roles, and they can't be wasted."
He paused again, and his voice deepened: "He also said that he believed that with me leading the troops, we could at least ensure that we would not be defeated and that more people would survive. After all, this time we are not trying to lure the enemy deep into our territory."
Zhu Ying was already extremely distressed after hearing this, and she couldn't help but hold Zhang Shou's arm tightly, fearing that she would hear the more tragic details that followed. Zhang Shou gently patted Zhu Ying's hand, then raised his head and looked at Zhu Tingfang.
"Mr. Zhu, the Duke of Zhao's action is indeed selfless, but after all, it is you who took the risk, not him. This is not even as touching as his own leading the troops. Moreover, has he not thought that even if he lets you lead the troops, those soldiers who were thrown out as bait may not be willing to accept it after knowing it?" In fact, he asked this question on behalf of Miss Zhu...
Zhu Tingfang didn't expect Zhang Shou to dare to criticize his father like this, but when he saw Zhu Ying's extremely approving expression, his mood became even more complicated, and he said lightly: "The emperor also said that kindness cannot lead the army. There are only superiors and subordinates in the military camp, not fathers and sons. Besides, no one under my command knows that I am a bait except me."
"After my detachment, my father sent two brave generals from Datong to lead two troops to encircle them. As expected, they kept their troops in place and watched me fall into an ambush. However, they did not expect that my father's presence in Datong was just an illusion. After I fell into the ambush, he took advantage of the enemy's retreat and rushed over with an elite force to devour the northern barbarian's rear army."
"Afterwards, my father used his small victory to capture the two generals who stood by and watched without helping. My messenger, who went to ask for help but was almost killed, became the best witness. You know, I led the troops of Datong Central Guard, and we are closely related to the soldiers under the command of those two generals. The commander stood by and watched the friendly army ask for help without helping, and even tried to kill and silence them. Of course, there was an uproar in the army."
"In order to first purge the scum in the army, my father blocked the military camps in Datong City and nearby areas, and waited for the news of the defeat to be reported back to the capital. He killed the two generals first and promoted many low-ranking generals... Thanks to the emperor's wisdom, he did not urge my father to fight quickly, nor did he send people to supervise the battle as the court clamored, which led to the subsequent victory."
Although Zhu Tingfang spoke calmly, everyone present could hear the murderous intent and danger in his understated tone. In particular, he focused more on Zhao Guogong Zhu Jing, but did not talk about his ambush and defeat at all, let alone how he escaped and created another miracle, which naturally aroused greater dissatisfaction from others.
The most dissatisfied one among them was none other than Zhu Ying. "Brother, have you had enough!" The eldest lady interrupted Zhu Tingfang with an angry shout, "The emperor and we all want to hear not only Dad's story, but also your own story! Where did you go after you lost the battle and disappeared? How did you happen to rob the place where the northern barbarians made firearms?"
Seeing Zhu Tingfang was silent, Wu Ge Lao couldn't help but ask: "That's right, Master Zhu avoided talking about his achievements. This is not the time to be modest. What the emperor wants is the truth."
Zhu Tingfang glanced at the silent emperor, then at Zhang Shou who seemed to be thinking deeply, and then he smiled bitterly and said, "Your Majesty, Elder Wu is wrong. I am not being modest, but I am ashamed to face Your Majesty and the people of the capital. I was exhausted from fighting and eventually fell off my horse. I had intended to commit suicide to apologize, but when I saw that many of my men were taken captive by the northern barbarians, I was so angry that I..."
He hesitated and did not continue speaking, but Zhang Shou suddenly spoke up, "But the eldest son thought of your father's words, that you can save more people, so he took off his armor and robes, put on a little disguise, and took the initiative to blend in with the prisoners of war?"
As soon as these words came out, not only Zhu Ying's face suddenly changed, even Wu Ge Lao was not much better. Since ancient times, being defeated and captured is a stain on the commander of an army, not to mention that Zhu Tingfang was once captured by the northern barbarians!
Even if they don't think that Zhu Tingfang was captured because he was exhausted and thus lost his integrity, as long as the news spreads, outsiders will definitely not see it that way! Those who once attacked the Duke of Zhao and his son will only spread this point desperately as if they had found a treasure!
Zhu Tingfang stared at Zhang Shou in surprise. Seeing that his face was calm, without any contempt or disdain, and even showed some respect in his eyes, he couldn't help but feel more complicated. After a long time, he nodded and said, "Yes, I heard that the Northern Tartars often look for people who are proficient in firearms among the captured soldiers and civilians, so I scratched my face and sneaked in."
"The only difficulty in the world is death... That's true, but I don't want to die as bait without any effect!"
