Chapter 258 Give yourself peace of mind Gu Tingye refuses

The emperor is no fool.

Especially the founding emperors of every dynasty, they were all outstanding heroes.

The founding emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty, in addition to setting the tone of "promoting culture and suppressing military", also established another rule that no previous emperor had changed - generals in the army must be rotated.

Don’t they know that the more familiar a general is with his army, the stronger the army’s combat effectiveness will be?

No, on the contrary, they understand the reason best.

However, due to the events of the previous dynasty and the lessons learned from his own rise...

Whoever created the figurines has no descendants?

Therefore, the Emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty was afraid that his entrepreneurial history would be imitated by others, so he came up with the national policy of rotating generals.

And it goes even further.

The power of a general in controlling the army is divided into three parts: the power to mobilize troops, the power to hold troops, and the power to command troops.

The Privy Council is in charge of military records and tiger seals, and has the power to mobilize troops.

The Three Yamen (Palace Front Division, Cavalry Division, and Infantry Division) were in charge of the army and had the power to command the troops.

The chief minister (appointed by the emperor during wartime) is in charge of the military and holds the most critical combat command power.

This move undoubtedly greatly strengthened the centralization of power, but at the same time, it also led to the fact that although the Great Zhou had a large number of troops, their combat effectiveness was weak, and there were redundant soldiers sitting around, with only a few troops being strong enough to be used.

However, in the emperor's view, this "little disadvantage" was nothing compared to the threat of losing the throne.

A combination of various factors.

Therefore, in Yang Wenyuan's opinion, no one could be a better leader than Yang Yuqing to quell the rebellion in the southwest.

He supported the resolution of "not appointing a crown prince" and was also the commander-in-chief of the Western Army for several years.

Leading the Western Army personally, he must have considerable combat power.

And after the matter is accomplished, it would be natural for him to rotate the troops.

Moreover, if the emperor is worried that the Yang family is too powerful and will leave a huge mess for the new emperor, he can also take advantage of this opportunity to quell the rebellion and promote Yang Yuqing to a higher position and transfer him to the frontier so that he will not affect the situation in the court.

Or he might take the opportunity to strip Yang Yuqing of his military power, promote him in name only and demote him in reality, promote him to the cabinet and give him the honorable position of elder.

Without military power, and being a military general, he would be ranked last in the cabinet, so there was no need to worry that he would hinder the dignity of the new monarch.

From the moment he learned about the rebellion in the southwest, Yang Wenyuan had a lot of thoughts in his mind.

He didn't know whether the government would give as much as he thought, but it should be more or less.

Besides, even if the emperor couldn’t think of it, those experienced and shrewd ministers would have thought of it.

Although the cabinet ministers stood aside and watched the issue of the succession, they were politically astute and would not miss this good opportunity to weaken the power of the military heroes.

They understood why the emperor favored the Yang family, and they also understood the emperor's hidden worries.

This was a perfect match between the two parties.

"So Dong Huan, are you saying that the general who will quell the rebellion in the southwest this time will be your uncle?"

Yang Wenyuan's thoughts were running through his mind. Gu Tingye was not stupid either.

Although he heard Yang Wenyuan's words suddenly and did not think as deeply and carefully as Yang Wenyuan did, he saw that Yang Wenyuan was talking to him all the time, and after listening carefully for a while, he guessed the meaning of Yang Wenyuan's words.

Yang Wenyuan nodded and said:

"The generals in the Central Imperial Army either just rotated and are not familiar with their troops, or they have other problems."

Yang Wenyuan did not mention the difficulties Yang Yuqing might encounter, but continued:
"After comprehensive consideration, there is no one more suitable than my uncle."

"When you think about it, it's true."

Gu Tingye couldn't help but nodded in agreement, but he immediately paused, looked at Yang Wenyuan with a puzzled look, and asked:

"But why are you looking at me like this while talking?"

As he spoke, he turned around and glanced at Changbai, with a teasing smile on his face.

"If you don't know, you might think that the government has specifically selected me to go to the southwest to quell the rebellion."

"The government didn't appoint you, I just wanted to ask you..."

Before Gu Tingye finished his teasing, he heard Yang Wenyuan say word by word:

"Do you want to come with us to quell the rebellion in the southwest?"

Do you want to come along?

Hearing this, Gu Tingye looked at Yang Wenyuan with surprise in his tiger eyes, pointed his index finger at himself, and said in disbelief:
"Me? You mean I'm going to join the army and follow Commander Yang to the southwest to quell the rebellion?"

He wanted to hear some jokes from Yang Wenyuan, but he was disappointed.

Yang Wenyuan said calmly:

"Yes, I called you here specifically to ask you if you want to join the army."

"Puch~!"

Although Gu Tingye tried hard to hold back his laughter, he couldn't help laughing out loud when he saw Yang Wenyuan's serious expression.

"I am a juren, and even a jinjinshi, and you want me to join the army?"

Gu Tingye came from a family of generals and was very clear about the difference between civil and military affairs.

In the past, he thought it was irritating to hear scholars call him "soldiers" and he was disdainful to talk to him, but now he has the opportunity to become a Jinshi and a civil servant, it's different...

However, before Gu Tingye could say his refusal, Yang Wenyuan interrupted him:
"Don't rush to refuse. Just listen to what I have to say."

Even though Gu Tingye was very likely not to join the army, Yang Wenyuan still felt that he should put Gu Tingye's original life trajectory in front of him and let him choose.

This is a friendship that has been built over many years.

It was a bit hypocritical, but more importantly, Yang Wenyuan wanted to reassure himself.

From now on, you can think selfishly:
"Gu Tingye, this is your own choice."

"First of all, Zhong Huai, you can't count on passing the imperial examination now. You have to wait for six years at most. And you also know that the imperial examination does not rely entirely on your own talent, but also on luck. Even if you pass this time, you may not be able to pass in the future."

"Secondly, the whole court will spare no effort to support the imperial army in suppressing the rebellion in the southwest. The emperor and the ministers will definitely not tolerate the instability in the southwest while there is a war with Xixia."

"As for the Southwest Nong clan, no matter how you look at it, it is just a small tribe in the southwest. With our Great Zhou in front and Jiaozhi in the back, it is just trying to survive in the cracks. Even if it is making a big noise now, it is just a grasshopper in autumn."

As he spoke, Yang Wenyuan said to Gu Tingye seriously:

"So, this time the southwest rebellion can be said to be a great opportunity to gain military merit. If it were someone else, I would not advise him to sharpen his weapons before the battle, but you, Gu Tingye, are different."

"You are the legitimate son of the Marquis's family, and you have martial arts skills. You also have old members of the Gu family in the army. It is not easy for others to claim military merits in the southwest, but no one dares to embezzle yours, Gu Tingye."

"And your family's title..."

Yang Wenyuan stopped talking here, and he was sure that Gu Tingye would understand what was going on.

If Gu Tingye could obtain a lot of military merits, then when his elder brother died in the future, the title of Gu family would definitely fall on him instead of Gu Tingwei, the third-generation legitimate son.

Yang Wenyuan analyzed it for him, and Gu Tingye listened calmly.

But when Yang Wenyuan finished speaking, Gu Tingye shook his head and refused:

"Forget it. Thank you for your kindness, Dong Huan, but I am about to start a family and I don't want to join the army."

Gu Tingye was a little tempted at first, but then he calmed down.

join the army?

Wouldn't it be that once the war breaks out, he won't be able to return home for several years, leaving his wife alone at home? !

Gu Tingye's heart suddenly trembled. This won't do!

Besides, civil officials and military generals, as well as soldiers and ministers, are all devoting their bodies and minds to the court and are loyal to the emperor and the country!
Yang Wenyuan didn’t know that Gu Tingye’s idea was so “fresh and unworldly”. He just thought that Gu Tingye saw that he could still take the imperial examination and didn’t see any hope, so he didn’t want to join the army.

Not to mention that now that Zhao Zongquan and his son from Yuzhou are gone, Yang Wenyuan will not allow it...

In short, from Gu Tingye's current point of view, joining the army and making meritorious contributions is far from being as good as staying in Bian Jing honestly, waiting to marry Yu Yanran in the spring of next year, and then waiting for the results of the imperial examination.

Besides, I, Gu Tingye, am not a poor scholar who can’t wait. I, Gu Tingye, have plenty of money!

"Are you sure you don't want to think about it again?" Yang Wenyuan asked again.

Gu Tingye shook his head like a sieve, refusing repeatedly:

"I know you're thinking about me, Dong Huan, but when I think about the fact that if I join the army and start a war, I might not be able to see my wife and children for a year, I feel anxious. Don't mention this again!"

"..."

Is this why you are here?

Yang Wenyuan was silent for a moment.

At the same time, he secretly held back the words he was about to say to persuade Gu Tingye, "If I gain military merit, maybe I can ask the government for permission to retire from the army and take the imperial examination as soon as possible."

Gu Tingye probably doesn't dare to gamble.

Changbai also rolled his eyes secretly.

Sure enough, although he has become a good man now, he is still the Zhong Huai that he is familiar with.

After confirming that Gu Tingye really had no ideas, Yang Wenyuan stopped forcing him.

But since I'm here now, I have to have a drink with Yang Wenyuan, the Marquis who stayed behind, before I can leave.

After drinking and listening to music, the party ended.

Before sending Gu Tingye and Changbai out, an idea suddenly popped into Yang Wenyuan's slightly confused mind, and he suddenly said to Gu Tingye:
"Zhong Huai, I suddenly remembered something."

"What's the matter?" Gu Tingye was also a little drunk, and replied with red cheeks.

"I remember seeing a fifth-rank ranger general named Xie in the military newspaper I read."

Yang Wenyuan held Gu Tingye's shoulders and walked out, saying:

"His camp was suddenly attacked by bandits at night. He was caught off guard. Although his entire army was not wiped out, many of his soldiers were killed or injured, and he also lost the main camp. He was therefore held accountable."

"General Xie?"

Gu Tingye frowned and thought about it carefully in his mind.

After a while, I was still confused:
"There is such a relative in my family? How come I have no impression of him at all?"

"They are not your in-laws, and have nothing to do with your family."

"Oh, that's right."

Gu Tingye laughed foolishly a few times:

"He must be a fool to have lost his camp due to an attack by bandits. It has nothing to do with my family."

"But it has nothing to do with my family. Why are you bringing this up all of a sudden?"

Yang Wenyuan followed with a laugh:
"Nothing, I just suddenly thought of this and mentioned it to you."

"Snapped."

Gu Tingye responded, but before getting on the carriage, Gu Tingye turned back and asked Yang Wenyuan, perhaps because he was in a good mood or something:

"What crime was the general surnamed Xie convicted of?"

Yang Wenyuan didn't look at it carefully, he just laughed and said:
"The general lost the camp, what crime can he be punished for? Besides, he is just a cavalry general who fights bandits. I think he has no connections in the court."

"Ah."

Gu Tingye nodded affirmatively, scratched his head and got into the carriage.

night.

Jiying Lane, Shengjia.

Qiming Pavilion.

Since the school was renamed Qiming Pavilion, it became the place where Sheng Hong and Chang Bai handled official business at home.

Of course, Sheng Hong is a veteran in officialdom and usually does not have much official business to deal with at home.

So most of the Changbai trees are here.

Changbai studied in the Hongwenguan of the Hanlin Academy, but he actually had no official business to deal with, so he mostly studied in the Qiming Pavilion.

Before I became a Jinshi, I studied the classics of sages here.

He became a Shujishi and studied court policies here.

It can be said to be unwavering.

"You mean, Wenyuan wants that kid Gu Tingye to join the army?"

Sheng Hong had some free time today, so he also came to Qiming Pavilion.

At the same time, under the pretext of guiding Changbai's studies, he came to Changbai to inquire about some news from the court.

After all, Sheng Hong was only a fifth-rank official. Although he had just been promoted to Langzhong of the Ministry of Works, his level of information was still far less than that of Changbai, who could often meet with the cabinet ministers, the six ministers, and the vice ministers in the Hongwenguan.

Not to mention that at the Marquis of Pingyang's Mansion, there is a son-in-law who often chats with Changbai, and during the chats they would talk about developments that only the top officials in the court knew about.

Sheng Hong wanted to make progress, so naturally he also wanted to know more news.

However, it was somewhat unbecoming for a father to ask his son for information, so whenever Sheng Hong sensed unusual movements in the court, he would come to Qiming Pavilion to "guide" Changbai's studies.

Changbai also gave his father face and told him the news during the conversation.

It's really a story of a loving father and a filial son.

Look, it is the same right now.

Sheng Hong had sensed that something was not right in the court atmosphere since yesterday's small court meeting, but he was only suspicious.

However, as soon as I got home from work today, I heard Wang Ruofu say that Changbai was called to Pingyang Marquis' Mansion by Yang Wenyuan, and I knew something really had happened.

So, when he heard Dong Rong report that Chang Bai had returned home and confirmed that he was in Qiming Pavilion, Sheng Hong straightened his collar and came over leisurely to "instruct".

Changbai also said it "inadvertently".

After hearing Sheng Hong's surprise, Changbai nodded and said:
"That's what my brother-in-law said, but Zhong Huai didn't agree."

"Of course he won't agree to that."

Sheng Hong glanced at Changbai, then pretended to carefully tidy up the potted plants while saying:

"With his temper, he can't even have enough fun. How can he go to the strict disciplined army?"

In this regard, Changbai explained helplessly:

"Father, Zhong Huai has already been engaged to the Yu family, and the marriage has been changed long ago."

Sheng Hong's face paused, thinking that there was some truth in his son's words. After all, Old Master Yu was watching there, so Gu Tingye shouldn't be in such a bad state now.

"But even if he changes, he won't abandon his marriage to join the army. Wenyuan's behavior this time is a bit inappropriate."

Changbai nodded silently.

He also felt that it was a bit strange that Yang Wenyuan asked Gu Tingye whether he would join the army.

Because there is really no sufficient reason.

"But it doesn't matter."

Seeing that Changbai didn't respond, Sheng Hong chuckled and said:

"Wenyuan is still young, so it's understandable that he didn't consider many things. However, the fact that he could guess that Commander Yang might be the candidate to lead the troops already makes him a leader in the officialdom."

Sheng Hongming asked himself, if it were when he first entered the officialdom, even if he was in Yang Wenyuan's position, he would definitely be confused and at a loss.

"This son-in-law's family background, character and talent are absolutely rare in the world. Fortunately, my family has found a treasure." Sheng Hong was secretly delighted.

At the same time, he was thinking in his mind.

Now that I have the news in advance, can I plan for some benefits? Or do a favor?
(End of this chapter)