From a son-in-law to a favorite of the empress

Chapter 493

It was still late at night, and the location was Ziwei Palace.

Empress Zhaojing was wrapped in a quilt, but she was sitting by the window, staring blankly outside.

Xiaozhuang came over and whispered, "Your Majesty, it's time to go to bed. There is an early court tomorrow."

Empress Zhaojing shook her head and said, "I can't sleep. The offensive of the Eastern Tartars is getting more and more fierce. During the day, Song Shanao also came back."

Xiaozhuang said, "Does he know that Zhou Yuan will return to Beijing to take charge?"

Empress Zhaojing said, "He has been a minister for several dynasties. He is smart. How could he not know this news?"

"He is also ready to abdicate and let the wise man go. With the resume and achievements of Junior Brother, he will be granted the title of Duke after repelling the Eastern Tartars."

Xiaozhuang said, "Then what is Your Majesty worried about?"

Empress Zhaojing said softly, "On the one hand, this battle is difficult to fight, much more difficult than the Central Plains. Even if Junior Brother goes out, there may not be hope."

"On the other hand, ...Junior brother is restless, which makes me sad. "

Xiao Zhuang smiled, but did not dare to talk easily, and just whispered: "Your Majesty does not trust Zhou Yuan?"

Empress Zhao Jing smiled bitterly and said: "A poor scholar, born as a son-in-law, was made a marquis within a year, and he was only 19 years old. Looking at the history of ancient and modern times, how many people have done it? How can we trust him?"

"No emperor trusts Junior brother as much as I do."

Xiao Zhuang said: "Since you trust him, there is no need to worry about him anymore, right?"

Empress Zhao Jing sighed and said: "Xiao Zhuang, you are not in my position, so you are not sensitive to many things."

"Junior brother has done a lot of things in the past year, some of which are intolerable to the king."

Xiao Zhuang said: "Then your majesty still Let him take charge?"

Empress Zhaojing said: "On the one hand, he is the only one who has the hope of stopping Nurhaci, and on the other hand... I still trust him."

"I am just afraid that my junior brother is too young, and he will be paranoid because of his youth, and eventually go astray."

"As long as he does not go astray and assists me well... That Li Yu'an said that I can't give my junior brother too much, at most he can be made a duke."

"In fact, it is not true. I am not a king who regards the ancestral system as the law of nature. What is the difference between a different surname and a king? For my junior brother, even if I make him a county king, what does it matter? Who in the world dares to object? Who dares to object to those civil officials?"

Xiaozhuang smiled and said: "So the ending that your majesty expects is to repel the Eastern Tartar, pacify the four seas, revitalize the Great Jin, sit firmly on the throne, make Zhou Yuan a king, and Share the peaceful and prosperous times. "

Hearing this, Empress Zhaojing couldn't help laughing and nodded, saying: "You still understand me. This is my wish, but I don't know if such a wish is extravagant."

Xiaozhuang said: "Your Majesty is the master of the country and the saint of the country, so you can naturally make the decision."

Empress Zhaojing said: "Yes, I hope I can make this decision."

"This time I asked Caixi to come back because she is not young anymore, and I plan to marry her to my junior brother."

"In this way, my junior brother and I are not only from the same school, but also related, and the previous conflicts should disappear. "

Xiaozhuang was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said: "Your Majesty is wise."

...

The next day, dressed neatly, entered the palace, and attended the morning court.

After a few months, I saw Yang Guozhong and other cabinet ministers again, which was really sad.

At that time, these cabinet ministers still held the power of the Jin Dynasty and were still playing the trick of using the power of the prime minister to fight against the power of the emperor. Now they are all honest and have become loyal ministers of the Jin Dynasty.

Seeing Zhou Yuan, they looked different and seemed to be a little emotional, shaking their heads and sighing.

"Wu Qingrong, tell me about the situation at Shanhaiguan."

Empress Zhaojing spoke, and she was going to show her cards.

Wu Qingrong immediately stepped out and saluted, saying, "Your Majesty, the enemy bandits from the East are attacking Shanhaiguan every day. The battle is fierce and both sides have suffered heavy losses."

"Generals Wu Dingzhong and Pang Lixing are still trying their best to fight the enemy, but there are less than 50,000 defenders left. The border situation is urgent and needs support."

The cabinet ministers and the core figures of the nobles are aware of this situation, but the ministers at the next level are not aware of it, so when they heard this, their faces changed drastically.

Shanhaiguan is the last pass of Shenjing. Once it is lost, the East Tartar will march straight in and attack Shenjing.

Empress Zhao Jing said: "Shanhai Pass is in urgent need of support, and there are no soldiers available in Shandong and Jizhou of our Great Jin, and the soldiers of Jinling and Huguang are also out of reach. Now I am afraid that I can only send 60,000 soldiers from the Five Military Camps."

The eyes of all the ministers were focused on Zhou Yuan. Everyone knew that he would lead the troops to the battle this time.

This favorite minister who has always been envied has almost become the only hope for the border war.

Zhou Yuan also knew that he had to express his position at this moment.

He stood up and said loudly: "Your Majesty, I am honored to be the commander-in-chief of the Five Military Camps. Seeing the difficult national affairs and the urgent border situation, how can I not be worried."

"I ask"I will lead five military camps and 60,000 soldiers to fight against the enemy in the East, support Shanhaiguan, and fight to the death with the enemy. "

The tone was firm, the words were like thunder, and the upright temperament and confident attitude calmed the panicked hearts of the people present.

Yang Guozhong and others looked at each other, and couldn't help but sigh in their hearts that Zhou Yuan was indeed confident enough in fighting.

Empress Zhaojing said immediately: "Good! The Marquis of Zhongwu is worried about state affairs, and I am very relieved. The cabinet will immediately draft an order to make the Marquis of Zhongwu and the Grand Commander of the Five Military Camps Zhou Yuan the Grand Marshal of the expedition against the enemy, lead the five military camps to fight, support Shanhaiguan, control the Shanhaiguan and other major armies, and temporarily manage all military and political affairs. "

"Give the emperor the sword to carry with you, wherever you go, it's like the emperor in person, you can kill first and report later, and act at your convenience. "

Speaking of this, she looked at Zhou Yuan and said in a deep voice: "Lord of the Military, the Great Jin is in turmoil, the enemy is arrogant and cruel, and has committed numerous crimes. I hope you will lead a tiger and wolf army to resist the enemy outside the pass and show the national prestige of our Great Jin."

Zhou Yuan said loudly: "I will obey your order and will use the heavenly army of the Great Jin to defeat the barbarian enemy. I will not return to the capital without victory."

The tough words made the ministers feel more confident, but soon they couldn't help but smile bitterly. This was just shouting slogans and boosting people's hearts in the court, and they should not be taken seriously.

When the court was dismissed, Yang Guozhong and other cabinet ministers took the initiative to come to Zhou Yuan.

Zeng Cheng was impatient and asked first: "Lord of the Military, the situation in Shanhaiguan is serious this time. Are you sure?"

Zhou Yuan looked at several people and smiled: "Do you think I am sure?"

Deng Bochi said: "Based on your character, you should be sure. But based on the facts, no one can be sure. The strength of the Eastern Tartar cannot be defeated by strategy. This is completely different from the situation in the Central Plains. "

Zhou Yuan sighed and said, "What a pity, fellow ministers, I don't have any strategy this time, and I don't plan to play any strategy."

"I just want to tell the world that times have changed."

He strode out and didn't want to continue chatting with these ministers.

And as he expected, at the gate of the palace, he saw Xiaozhuang standing there waiting.

Xiaozhuang didn't talk nonsense, but smiled and said, "Zhou Yuan, let's go to Ziwei Palace."

Zhou Yuan touched his stomach and said, "I'm hungry."

"Your Majesty has prepared food."

Xiaozhuang patted his shoulder and smiled, "As long as you need it, Your Majesty will give it to you. There are few monarchs and ministers like you in ancient times."

"Zhou Yuan, cherish it! "

Zhou Yuan glanced at Xiao Zhuang and didn't reply.

He was just thinking, as the closest person to the eldest sister, why would Xiao Zhuang say such words with other meanings in his advice?

The key is that it is difficult to distinguish the true attitude from such words, and... No!

No! I am obsessed.

Zhou Yuan closed his eyes and quickly cleared his mind.

He was alert in his heart. Now when he saw anyone or heard any words, he couldn't help but analyze the position and deep meaning, and then distinguish the enemy and friend in his heart...

In fact, this is a very unhealthy mental state, and it will go bad sooner or later. Everything should be more natural.

He smiled and said, "Thank you, Master Xiao Zhuang, for reminding me. Of course, I am very grateful for the trust and favor of the eldest sister, and thank Master Xiao Zhuang for helping me many times. "

Xiao Zhuang narrowed his eyes and said, "You didn't say such polite words before."

Zhou Yuan's heart trembled, and he smiled and said, "Then did your majesty prepare wine for this dinner? "

Xiao Zhuang waved his hand and said, "You are just dreaming. Rewards are not always available. His Majesty is a very serious person."

"You are a little lucky, so just enjoy it secretly. You are still thinking of taking advantage of it."