The Ming Dynasty started with caution

Yan Chengjin and Li Qing'e's wedding has been decided.

Yan Chengjin was a little embarrassed when he saw that the day of Qin Tian's election was actually the same day as this year's general examination:

February 27, the eighteenth year of Hongzhi.

It's only forty-eight days since now.

Zhou Zheng said with a smile on his face: "This day is suitable for entering school, getting married, moving into a house, and opening a business. The next auspicious day for a wedding will not be until September."

It’s not surprising to wait a year for an auspicious date for your wedding.

Emperor Hongzhi looked at Yan Chengjin and Li Dongyang: "In this way, neither the Li Qing family nor the Yan Qing family will be able to host the trial."

Li Dongyang held Bai Fu and said, "I will obey your Majesty's arrangements."

Yan Chengjin said: "I sincerely ask your Majesty to allow my father to return to Beijing."

The generals who guard the nine borders are usually not allowed to leave their posts without permission unless they have Ding You at home.

"Marquis Anding has not returned to the capital for two years, right? Tell him to return to the capital to arrange the wedding of Yan Qing's family." After saying that, Emperor Hongzhi thought of another thing: "You two stay and tell the cabinet and Six."

Zhou Zheng bowed and exited the hall. Not long after, Liu Jian and others walked in one after another.

Emperor Hongzhi said: "The eunuch who went to Huarong to convey the order reported that Liu Qing's family refused my order because they were old and incompetent and had no intention of entering the capital as officials."

Yan Chengjin had already guessed that Liu Daxia was already the minister of the Ministry of War when he left office, and would become the minister sooner or later.

But at this critical moment, he resigned and returned home, obviously not wanting to serve the Zhu family anymore.

Emperor Hongzhi said: "As a result, the Minister of the Ministry of War is still vacant. I want Chai to enter the capital and take up the post of Minister of the Ministry of War."

"I think it's okay!" Liu Jian bowed and said.

…

In Yansui, heavy snow falls.

The biting west wind made pedestrians so skinny that they could not resist the cold without a thick cotton-padded jacket.

Yan Kesong ordered people to slaughter lambs and drink wine for the soldiers to make up for their fat.

Zuo Zhongyi's face was full of pain and he said: "White rice is enough. Mr. Zongxian is greedy for meat, so he can just kill one head. Why reward the three armies?!"

Each of the more than 100,000 soldiers was given a portion of mutton, and at least 500 sheep had to be slaughtered.

Yan Kesong laughed loudly and said: "I have my own reasons, Master Zuo, can you stay and eat something?"

According to Wang Yue's teachings, the reason why the three sides are stronger than the other nine sides is that they are not stingy with rewards.

Zuo Zongyi sat down angrily.

He supervised the construction of the Great Wall and had steamed buns and pickles every day.

The room steward walked in in a panic: "Sir, the female general is here again! She's just outside the camp."

Yan Kesong's face trembled slightly, as if facing a formidable enemy.

Zuo Zongyi couldn't help but smile. He knew that this woman was a rare and tough female general in the army. When Yan Kesong fought against Dayan Khan, he transferred her from Datong to Ningxia.

It is easy to ask the gods but difficult to send them away. This woman wanted to stay in Hetao to guard the place. For this reason, she begged Yan Kesong many times.

This girl's father was Yang Qin, the general of the Xuanfu of the Chenghua Dynasty. He had been fighting on the battlefield since he was a child and was highly skilled in martial arts.

Zuo Zongyi laughed loudly: "I heard that Brother Cangjin doesn't touch prostitutes in the military camp, so you might as well give it a try..."

The lieutenant general laughed loudly. Mr. Zongxian was still a scholar at heart and had a bookish spirit.

Yan Kesong blushed and said, "Don't slander General Yang's reputation."

After that, he sighed and walked out of the camp.

…

In Beijing, more than ten days passed in a flash.

A red-topped carriage drove slowly into Chengxian Street.

Along the way, Chai Sheng did not lower the curtains. The streets were wide enough for four carriages to pass side by side, and the buildings were magnificent.

"It's been a long time since I've been to Beijing. The city is so prosperous."

The gentry who went in and out of luxurious buildings seemed to be rich, much richer than the gentry in Jiangnan.

I don’t know what business there is in the capital that allows them to squander like this.

He bought a mansion on the East Side.

As soon as he got off the carriage, two officials came to greet him in front of the door, namely Yang Zhou, the chief secretary of the Ministry of War, and Zhuang Xuan, the doctor of the Ministry of War.

"When Mr. Chai enters his new residence, why are you two waiting here? This makes Mr. Chai feel guilty."

"Master Chai is from the Ministry of War. I'll have to pay him a visit sooner or later, so why not choose today."

Yang Zhou smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. Chai Sheng was quite famous in Nanzhili, and had served as Minister of Literary Affairs and Gongshang successively.

I came to visit today just to check his character. I found this person to be quite compatible.

The next day, it was early in the morning.

In front of Zuoye Gate, hundreds of officials were waiting to attend the morning court. Yan Chengjin found a new person standing at the front of the Ministry of War.

He is about the same age as Wang Hua, has an enviable black beard, stares at the golden clock, and does not talk to anyone.

After a while, Emperor Hongzhi sat in the main hall and it was the Ministry of War's turn to report.

The eyes of all the officials were focused on one place, Chai Sheng!

"Chai Qing's family has just entered the capital and is not familiar with the important affairs of the imperial court, so there is no need for the Ministry of War to report it." Emperor Hongzhi said.

Chai Sheng shook his head: "I thank your Majesty, but I had something to think about on the way and have something to report!"

Liu Jian was somewhat looking forward to it. The court was not like Nanjing, and he could talk nonsense.

Think twice before you speak something.

If he talks to show off his talent, Chai Sheng is probably a fool.

Chai Sheng said: "The imperial court has spent a lot of money on the Ministry of War. Now that the Great Wall in the northwest has been built, the troops stationed there are rich and abundant. I begged and was allowed to issue the decree. I found out that the military officers on the three sides have too much food, such as female households in the army, Enyin, The guards, generals, and generals are all dismissed!"

Layoffs?

Isn't this the same as the three-year retirement sanction in later generations?

Yan Chengjin once again set his sights on Chai Sheng. With the Great Wall in the Northwest built, the garrison troops should be reduced to save money. This is correct.

But sooner or later the Ming Dynasty will attack the grassland and will need more troops.

"I think it's impossible."

Chai Sheng turned his head slightly, a little confused: "This is a matter for the Ministry of War and is not within the scope of the Metropolitan Procuratorate."

Mysterious meaning, your hand has crossed the line, right?

Yang Zhou and Zhuang Xuan, the chief clerks of the Ministry of War, looked nervous. They forgot to say hello yesterday. Mr. Chai still didn’t know that this guy was in charge of everything, no matter what the boundaries were!

Yang Zhou reminded in a low voice behind him: "Master Chai, why don't we discuss this matter after we return to the check-in room?"

Chai Sheng looked directly at Yan Chengjin. He had just entered the capital and did not want to make enemies.

"With the Northwest Great Wall for defense, the garrison strength can be reduced. Why does Mr. Yan object?"

Yan Chengjin opposed it for three reasons. First, unless the Tatars were wiped out by the Ming Dynasty.

Otherwise, it would be better to disband the troops of Xuanfu and Datong than to use the powerful border troops.

Secondly, the more troops Dad controls on the border, the safer he is. The essence of the art of war is to win with more.

Thirdly, Chai Sheng was an official from Southern Zhili. As soon as he entered the capital, he had to mobilize the troops from the northwest. It was inevitable that people would doubt whether it was under the instigation of King Ning.

Li Dongyang said: "Master Chai may not know in Nanzhili that the imperial court intends to attack the Tatars."

Now, Yan Chengjin is also his son-in-law. Even though he is not happy, he is half a son after all.

Yan Chengjin was quite surprised, not expecting that Li Dongyang would protect him.

Ma Wensheng nodded: "It is indeed risky to reduce the troops in the northwest."

The strategy I had been thinking about for several days on the road was rejected by two ministers one after another.

Chai Jin's face turned red, he nodded and retreated back to the ranks of soldiers.

After leaving the court, the Ministry of War was on duty.

Yang Tongdao said: "When Mr. Qin was here, he was not happy with this son. He always liked to interfere in the affairs of the Ministry of War, and he especially liked to recommend Wang Shouren."

"Yes, now this son has become Li Gong's son-in-law. Mr. Chai just wants to see Li Gong's face and don't argue with him." Zhuang Xuan said.

Chai Sheng felt depressed, the six ministries and nine ministers, the six ministries should be above the Metropolitan Procuratorate.

Now, he actually felt like he was being intervened by the Metropolitan Procuratorate, which made him quite unhappy.

…

The day of the test is getting closer and closer.

Scholars in the capital began to place bets, many of them bet on Yan Song from Beizhili, and many on Gu Dingchen.

The examiner appointed Wang Hua and Zhang Sheng.

The two of them were resident examiners of the imperial examination, and their annotations had already filled several bookcases in the library.

Yan Chengjin said to Yan Song: "Are you sure you can win Huiyuan?"

Hearing that Yan Chengjin has extremely high requirements for people, Yan Song said: "The students are somewhat confident."

Since the imperial examination case, Yan Song has always wanted to be a disciple of Yan Chengjin.

Thank you everyone for your votes ~ take a bow