who?

…

…

Originally, the dispute between old and new officials at the city gate had to be resolved through a contest.

But because Ma Zhongxi mentioned God's will and Zhang Zhou mentioned praying for rain, the matter came to an end for the time being. Also because Ma Yi followed Zhang Zhou into the city, which meant that Ma Yi did not escape privately. Ma Zhongxi also felt that Zhang Zhou was unwilling to surrender.

It is enough to report Zhang Zhou to the court for harboring criminals, but there is no need to fight Zhang Zhou to death.

If someone else's official is higher than him, what else can he do if he doesn't come?

You can't send someone to your door to rob you, right?

Ma Yi himself is the chief military officer, and his status in the city is not low. If he really wants to use violence, he is not sure who will suffer, and it is not impossible to cause a mutiny in the army.

The soldiers and civilians entered the city.

Zhang Zhou was also alive. When he entered the city, he did not ride a horse, a sedan, or a carriage. Instead, he walked instead. He even shook hands with the onlookers along the way.

"Fellow folks, I am the newly appointed General Secretary of Xuanda. All surrounding affairs are under my control. If you have any grievances, you can come to me and I will redress your grievances. The day after tomorrow, I will set up an altar at the gate of the city to pray for rain. Everyone.

Come and witness it!”

Zhang Zhou seemed to be afraid that the people on the road could not hear clearly, so he kept repeating himself.

He also took out a "megaphone" made of a simple paper tube and shouted loudly to the people along the way.

Not only did he tell it himself, but he also asked his personal followers, Jinyiwei Qianhu, Sun Shangqi and others to come and speak with him. As soon as he arrived, he played a trick that was widely publicized.

Only then did Ma Zhongxi know who was the expert at inciting people's emotions.

I also saw what it means to fully harness the power of public opinion.

"Ma Zhongcheng, do you think the rain the day after tomorrow...can it come down?"

When the officials around Ma Zhongxi saw this scene, they even began to have doubts about life.

The newcomer Zhang Zhou is so famous. He said that he would pray for rain the day after tomorrow. If he was not sure, how could he tell the people in the city so confidently? But if the rain is really prayed by Zhang Zhou, wouldn't it mean that God's will is standing?

At Zhang Zhou's side?

Ma Zhongxi stood at the gate of the city without even intending to follow him in. Hearing this, he glanced sideways at the subordinate officer.

The subordinate officials were dejected and did not dare to say anything.

A military general next to him said: "But I don't know how this Zhang Zhitai is compared to the previous Liu Shilang. I heard that he can use troops like a god."

Ma Zhongxi knew for the first time that Zhang Zhou's status in the hearts of the Ming Dynasty's frontier soldiers was very high.

The previous "big man" who came to Xuanfu was Liu Daxia, who served as the left minister of the Ministry of Revenue in the tenth year of Hongzhi two years ago and came to Xuanfu to manage military pay. At that time, Liu Daxia had left a good official reputation in Xuanfu, but Liu Daxia came to Xuanfu.

After all, the government is not for fighting. Now that the imperial court has sent General Xuanda, everyone in the army seems to want to follow Zhang Zhou into a big fight.

The anticipation in the eyes of the soldiers gave Ma Zhongxi a headache and anger just looking at them.

After all, after Yu Zijun in the 21st year of Chenghua, the imperial court had not established the Xuanda General System for more than ten years, let alone used the Xuanda General System to prepare for sending troops to suppress traps.

…

…

"Mr. Zhang, you are so powerful. With Ma Zhongcheng's aggressive look, he thought that today would not end well and that he would not even be able to enter the city."

After Zhang Zhou entered the city, he first stayed in the post house.

Zhang Lun followed Zhang Zhou like a follower and admired Zhang Zhou very much.

There is no governor's palace in the city. Zhang Zhou will live in the governor's office later. Now Zhang Zhou and Ma Zhongxi are having a very unpleasant quarrel, but it does not affect Zhang Zhou's sending people to let Ma Zhongxi open the courtyard.

Zhang Zhoubai glanced at this kid and said: "The general manager and the governor are not on good terms. From now on, they will have to manage things under the same roof. What do you think is a good thing? Have you settled in?"

"No... they said there is no place for me to live in the General Military Mansion."

Zhang Lun felt aggrieved.

He was brought here to study with Zhang Zhou, and he did not hold any military position. Naturally, the General Military Office could not arrange it.

Zhang Zhou said: "Then go and find a room downstairs to live in. From now on, you can run errands for me. I won't embarrass you too much, right?"

"No." Zhang Lun scratched his head, "My grandfather asked me to do this."

"It's good to know. I'll leave it to you to build the platform for praying for rain, bring a few people with you, and create momentum along the way. You can also tell them that you are a British prince."

"Then...that's not necessary."

Zhang Lun thought.

If you have a big face, you are not afraid of being embarrassed. If I have a small face, I should take it easy.

…

…

Ma Zhongxi was not angry.

After returning home, he was not polite. He even wrote a memorial to impeach Zhang Zhou and sent it to the capital on horseback. He felt that he wanted to fight Zhang Zhou to the end.

From the Xuan Mansion to the capital, it didn't take a day or a night to reach the capital.

The next morning, the memorial was placed on Zhu Youtang's desk in Qianqing Palace.

"hehe."

After Zhu Youtang read Ma Zhongxi's performance, he was not angry at all, but smiled happily.

"Has the cabinet seen it?" Zhu Youtang asked.

"I have never closed the door to the cabinet." Dai Yi replied.

This kind of border report is usually notified to the emperor first and handled by the emperor himself. It often does not require the cabinet to draw up opinions. If it really needs to be drawn up by the cabinet, the emperor will have someone send it to the cabinet.

Zhu Youtang smiled and said: "I actually want to know the reaction of those courtiers when they see this thing. Bingkuan's work is really unexpected."

Dai Yi said hesitantly: "It seems inappropriate for Mr. Zhang to take Ma Yi in, as it would be easy to prove the truth."

"What's the matter?" Zhu Youtang said, "Only the Three Law Divisions can convict Ma Yi of his crime. Besides, it is the responsibility of the censor to inspect matters in the northwest. When will it be the governor's turn to convict the military generals? Isn't it for the border areas? Have you laid the foundation for discord between the generals?"

"yes."

Only then did Dai Yi know that although the emperor had previously given Ma Zhongxi the authority to investigate the case, he did not support Ma Zhongxi's approach of investigating the former chief military officer.

One is the head of the civil service, and the other is the head of the military generals.

When your civil servants are investigating military generals, who knows if there are any suspicions of public retaliation for private vengeance arising from power struggles, or suspicions of abolition of public service for private purposes?

Zhu Youtang said with a serious face: "Is Bingkuan returning to protect Ma Yi? He is just maintaining justice in the northwest army! If the generals in the army can be investigated and punished by the governor at any time, then wouldn't everyone in the northwest be in danger? ?Even if Ma Yi really committed any crime, as long as it does not involve the stability of the army, he can still be forgiven."

Dai Yi and the other eunuchs smiled bitterly in their hearts after hearing this.

Is this the emperor's desire to protect the interests of the northwest generals?

If Zhang Zhou hadn't taken Ma Yi under his wing, I guess the emperor wouldn't have sat back and watched the corruption of the northwest generals. It's better to say... As long as Bingkuan needs it, I can accept it.

"Should it rain this time?" Zhu Youtang suddenly asked a question that Dai Yi and others could not answer.

Dai Yi asked: "Your Majesty, if you ask about praying for rain, Mr. Zhang has already said that he does not have such ability."

"He said no, so he didn't? Maybe he didn't want to take credit?" When Zhu Youtang asked, he and several eunuchs naturally thought of the past when the monarchs and ministers went to worship the sky and pray for rain together, pretending to be in front of others.

Zhu Youtang himself made a lot of money that time.

Xiao Jing said with certainty: "Mr. Zhang's words about praying for rain should not be false. Maybe Mr. Zhang knew that it would rain in Xuanfu that day? After all, Mr. Zhang also said that only if something happened recently, he would be there on the spot. , to be sure.”

"Not necessarily." Zhu Youtang continued to smile, "Didn't he directly say that there was going to be an earthquake in a place as far away as Jianchangwei? Speaking of which, when he left this time, he didn't even ask him to give more money. Divination, it’s a pity to say it.”

Xiao Jing wanted to say something else, but Dai Yi glared at him and blocked Xiao Jing's mouth.

Dai Yi himself said: "Then Your Majesty, do you want to issue an order and let Mr. Zhang do the math?"

"No need, if there is something big, I believe Bingkuan will tell me in advance. If he doesn't tell me, it means it doesn't happen, or it's not very important. Then there is no need to let him know the secret every time."

Zhu Youtang seemed to understand Zhang Zhou very well.

Probably I also want to "slowly flow".

If Zhang Zhou is allowed to pry into the secrets of heaven without any problem, and Zhang Zhou is punished by heaven and burps early, then when he becomes the emperor, he will have no way to find someone to inquire about the secrets of heaven.

Keep Zhang Zhou and ask him again when big things happen in the future.

Without troubling Zhang Zhou, the emperor would feel that he was benevolent and would not bother Bingkuan with anything.
Chapter completed!