Chapter 15 Section 7 Zu Dashou: The most critical choice in life

When Zu Dashou brazenly led his troops to leave the capital to return to Ningyuan, Chongzhen was dealing with a tofu project. There are bean curd residue projects every year, especially this year. The battle outside the city was fierce, and Huang Taiji's army quickly demolished some of the city walls. The city wall is not strong, and even Huang Taiji's soldiers can experience it when they climb the wall with their bare hands. The Ming Dynasty had a strong national power, but the city defenses were so superficial, Huang Taiji found it inconceivable. Of course Chongzhen felt incredible.

He was furious! People are unreliable, and the fucking wall is also unreliable! In fact, if you think about it carefully, the two are inseparable—it is because people are unreliable that walls are unreliable. Of course, everything in the world is dialectical. If the wall is unreliable, if it falls, people must also fall. Chongzhen ordered: Zhang Fengxiang, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, who was responsible for the leadership, was arrested and imprisoned, and the directly responsible persons such as Xu Guanji, the doctor of the Ministry of Construction, Zhou Changying, the doctor of the Dushui Department, and Zhu Changshi, the doctor of the Tuntian Department, were all directly responsible.

However, what Chongzhen didn't expect was that for such a punishment that was not serious at all, five cabinet ministers jointly filed a petition, asking Chongzhen to show mercy and give him a lighter punishment. I show mercy?Who is showing mercy to my Daming Jiangshan? !The artillery fire from his Huang Taiji was about to hit the Forbidden City. The entire ancestral temple and society of Daming were supported by this wall.Therefore, those who neglect their duties and engage in shabby projects must be severely punished! Following Chongzhen's order of severe punishment, the eighty court staff immediately killed Xu Guanji, Zhou Changying, and Zhu Changshi, three elderly and infirm people—this is a killing stick with the emperor's anger.

Just when Chongzhen's anger had not dissipated, Zu Dashou brazenly led his troops to leave the capital to return to Ningyuan. In fact, Zu Dashou had to leave, and had to leave. There are three reasons: Chongzhen arrested Yuan Chonghuan and imprisoned him, which made Zu Dashou feel cold. After being imprisoned, Man Gui, the general of Datong, was promoted to be the prime minister, and he restrained the teachers who worked hard for the king from all walks of life, which ignited the fuse of Zu Dashou's departure. In Chongzhen's heart, he actually believed in the authenticity of Yuan Chonghuan instructing his subordinates to injure Man Gui with artillery fire.No matter what purpose Yuan Chonghuan ordered his subordinates to injure Man Gui with cannon fire, the enemy of the traitor is my loyal minister of Daming, and he must not only use it, but also reuse it.In this way, Man Gui became Zu Dashou's immediate boss, and these two people usually disagree with each other. In the hearts of most Liao soldiers, they still admire Zu Dashou's talent.Now Zu Dashou is asked to listen to Man Gui's restraint, even if Zu Dashou can bear this tone, the Liao soldiers will not accept it.

Unbearable, there is no need to bear it anymore, Zu Dashou was escorted away by the Liao soldiers.This is boundless.After returning to Ningyuan, what should we do next?Do you still admit that you are a soldier of Ming Dynasty?No one knows the answer.In fact, admitting it or not is of no help. After leaving the capital where the fierce battle is in full swing, Zu Dashou and his Liao soldiers will embark on a road of no return. Chongzhen once again felt his loneliness deeply. The military situation is like fire, and Huang Taiji's army may break into the city at any time.And one of Daming's most combative teams brazenly left, what should we do next?

Lonely people are shameful.Who makes the loneliness so beautiful tonight.Worry about every inch of blue silk, why worry about China. In his position, he has to seek his own government.Liang Tingdong, Minister of the Ministry of War, offered a plan: if you want to call back your life, you must write in Chonghuan's handwriting. What does that mean?If Zu Dashou wants to come back, Yuan Chonghuan, who is in prison, has to write him a letter of persuasion.Because Zu Dashou listened to him. Chongzhen stared at Liang Tingdong and remained silent for a long time.This made Liang Tingdong shudder: Is the emperor over-stimulated by the fact that Zu Dashou left - something went wrong with his brain?

Chongzhen suddenly laughed, very strangely: Do you think our great Ming would fall without Yuan Chonghuan?You let me—the majestic Son of Ming Dynasty go to prison and beg that person to write a letter, telling his subordinates to come back and defend our Daming country?Without him "Yuan Chonghuan", there will be no one to defend the Ming Dynasty?What about your men?What about Man Gui's men?Where are they all dead? ! Chongzhen waved his hands nervously, Liang Tingdong was helpless.Chongzhen used to hold Yuan Chonghuan very seriously, wishing he could hand over all the soldiers and horses in the world to him, but now he turned his face, and immediately put all the responsibility on others.Being an official in Daming really doesn't mean anything.

But it's worth it if there's no bird meaning.Is life interesting?boring.The emperor is treated like this, I'm a fart.Liang Tingdong has been persuading Chongzhen left and right, hoping that Chongzhen can really face the reality calmly: Daming is really inseparable from Yuan Chonghuan's handwriting.We are not going to beg Yuan Chonghuan now, but to ask him to take the blame and make meritorious service. As soon as he heard the words "serving a crime and making meritorious service", Chongzhen immediately felt much more comfortable.It is better to give me such a good reason earlier than to give me such a good reason.

But in the end, Chongzhen did not issue an imperial edict to Liang Tingdong, but acquiesced that he could go to prison to persuade Yuan Chonghuan to write a handwritten letter.Chongzhen suddenly felt that it was still impossible to leave any clues for the historians to catch.Because they - can write indiscriminately. In fact, Liang Tingdong believes that Yuan Chonghuan's handwriting is more effective than the imperial decree.Therefore, even though there was no imperial decree from Chongzhen, Liang Tingdong still put on airs. He asked the nine ministers of the cabinet to rush into the prison where Yuan Chonghuan was imprisoned, and asked Yuan Chonghuan to write a handwritten letter to Zu Dashou immediately, urging him to come back. , Condemned and meritorious.

But for Yuan Chonghuan, it doesn't matter whether he writes handwriting for Zu Dashou or not.The important thing is - he wants to see Chongzhen's handwriting. Chongzhen's handwriting is called the imperial decree, but the imperial decree is also handwritten.Handwriting my heart, handwriting represents a person's spiritual code to a certain extent. He wanted to decipher Chongzhen's spiritual code. A person, for another person, from trust to mistrust, what kind of mental journey does one have to go through. He is very concerned about the emperor's evaluation of him, because it is related to whether he can come back.

Coming back means that Da Ming still has a force of resistance; if he can't come back, Da Ming can only collapse without fighting. Of course, Yuan Chonghuan also has a very selfish idea: he does not want future generations to evaluate him negatively. He is a loyal minister.He is loyal to the emperor and to the country.This is the whole meaning of his existence. Whether it is fighting or talking, his purpose is for the emperor.But now, the emperor said that he was collaborating with the enemy and he was not wanted anymore. What's the point of his life? Therefore, he eagerly wanted to see Chongzhen's handwriting.He wanted to know if he, Yuan Chonghuan, had the chance to serve the country again. Liang Tingdong was very embarrassed. He met a man who believed in death. It is not terrible for people to admit death, what is terrible is to admit death regardless of the occasion and situation. What is the occasion now?is in prison.Your Yuan Chonghuan's life is hanging by a thread, what qualifications do you have to bargain? What is the situation now?Huang Taiji's soldiers approached the city, and the people in the Ming army were in a state of confusion.And the emperor is a person who wants to save face, he will not admit that all these situations are caused by him intentionally or unintentionally.The military situation is on fire, if you, Yuan Chonghuan, admit death at this time, Daming will be over. Therefore, for the safety of Daming, you, Yuan Chonghuan, must take the emperor's face into consideration. In fact, there is nothing wrong with the emperor wanting face. The face of the emperor is the face of the country. If an emperor has no face, how can this country have face? Liang Tingdong explained his theory to Yuan Chonghuan earnestly in this way. But Liang Tingdong's face theory did not convince Yuan Chonghuan. Because to be honest, Yuan Chonghuan is also a person who wants face. Without the imperial decree of Chongzhen, Yuan Chonghuan would not have written a single word. There is no doubt that theory is gray. But not all theories are gray. When the two sides were at a stalemate, Yu Dacheng, an official of the Ministry of War, spoke out a vivid theory.Of course, Yu Dacheng can have a fresh theory because he has foreseen it. On the second day after Yuan Chonghuan was arrested and imprisoned, Yu Dacheng told his immediate superior, Liang Tingdong, that the enemy is very strong now, but the Liao soldiers have no masters and no desire to fight. The situation is very critical... Liang Tingdong was reading "Sun Tzu's Art of War" at the time, and wanted to find a clever way to get out of Da Ming's troubles, but after looking at it, he felt that Sun Tzu was always playing tricks on him, and he couldn't find a way to get out of Da Ming's troubles. Hearing what Yu Dacheng said, he asked him what he could do. Yu Dacheng said that he must be released immediately and let Yuan Chonghuan continue to lead the army. Liang Tingdong threw "Sun Tzu's Art of War" away, and his stomach drooped with anger: Let people go?If I want to have the power to release people, I will not be the Minister of the Ministry of War.About this matter, ask Chongzhen... You Yu Dacheng is really fucking out of his mind, and there is no way to offer advice like this. But what Yu Dacheng said next made Liang Tingdong a little tempted.Yu Dacheng said that there is one prerequisite and two benefits for Yuan Chonghuan to continue to lead troops.One premise is to wear a crime and perform meritorious service. First of all, he is found guilty, so that the emperor can save face; the two advantages are that it can not only strengthen the morale of the army, but also repel the enemy soldiers.If he can retreat from the enemy, he will be considered a meritorious service. Liang Tingdong was really moved after hearing this.But if he wants to tell Chongzhen now, he really has to weigh it up: If I say this, will the emperor think that I am Yuan Chonghuan's accomplice?If it doesn't work out, I will become Yuan Chonghuan's good neighbor and partner instead.The emperor is a bit BT these days. Didn't the Liao soldiers still have Zu Dashou?What are you panicking about? !Liang Tingdong picked up "Sun Tzu's Art of War" again and told Yu Dacheng calmly. Yu Dacheng chuckled: There are eggs in the nest.Yuan Chonghuan was arrested, and Zu Dashou must turn against him.Let's just wait and see. As soon as Yu Dacheng said this, not only Liang Tingdong became anxious, but even Zhou Yanru, who had just joined the cabinet, became anxious.He urgently summoned Yu Dacheng to discuss state affairs. That's right, Daming has reached this point, it is impossible for the country not to discuss it.Zhou Yanru asked Yu Dacheng, if the ancestor's birthday must be rebelled, when will he rebel? Yu Dacheng laughed, oh shit, did I make a mistake, and Zu Dashou never discussed with me when he would rebel.You old man asked me this, if I answer it, it will kill me, if I don't answer, I can save my life. Yu Dacheng shook his head with a simple and honest face, meaning don't tempt me to confess, I am not a greedy fish, and I can't bite the bait. Zhou Yanru smiled embarrassingly, and hurriedly explained that he had no other intentions, but just wanted to hear insights. Yu Dacheng looked at Zhou Yanru's face carefully, and thought about his personality, and felt that Zhou Yanru would not plot against him at this time.Besides, Yu Dacheng's official rank is too small, so he is not worthy of Mr. Zhou's plan. Three days later, Zu Dashou will return. Why? I am a person who likes to figure out people's minds. Speak quickly if you have something to say, and let go of farts quickly. Think about it, when Yuan Chonghuan was arrested, Zu Dashou would definitely wait and see for a day or two.The emperor is moody, if he releases Yuan Chonghuan the next day, there is no need for Zu Dashou; if he does not release him after three days, it means that the emperor is not joking, but really wants to question Yuan Chonghuan.With dead lips and cold teeth, Zu Dashou must have sympathy for him.No, that is an inevitable choice; no, it means that this person has a problem with his mind... Zhou Yanru grabbed Yu Dacheng's hand and was speechless for a long time.Alas, there are talents everywhere in Daming, it's just——why didn't I find out until today? Bureaucracy really kills people... only! At this time, Yu Dacheng, a talent in the 17th century, also grabbed Yuan Chonghuan's hand, and was speechless for a long time. He felt a deep pity.He felt that it was the best policy to let Yuan Chonghuan come out and return to the battlefield, but asking Yuan Chonghuan to write a handwritten letter to Zu Dashou and persuading him to come back to perform crimes and meritorious deeds was at best a medium policy. What is the next move?Yu Dacheng didn't dare to think about it.The best policy is no longer feasible, and now he can only do his best to make the middle policy implementable. In worldly affairs, attacking the heart is the first. Yu Dacheng first raised Yuan Chonghuan to the position of a lone hero in troubled times: Gonggu is loyal to the Zu, holding Liao with only one hand, life and death are life and death, donate for a long time!In such a position, "there is no one in the world who refuses to accept the righteousness of justice, but forgives the heart of justice." Therefore, for the sake of the country, even if the emperor does not recognize you, as long as the people of Ming Dynasty recognize you and are willing to be Yuan fans, you should make sacrifices for the country at this critical moment.Besides, after you really sacrificed for the country, can the emperor not recognize you?Loyalty depends on action!Only when the emperor admits you can you come back, and you can make great achievements after you come back. You can think clearly about all the causal and logical relationships. Yuan Chonghuan was still hesitating. Yu Dacheng suddenly changed the subject and pointed out some disastrous consequences to him: If you, Yuan Chonghuan, insist on not writing handwriting, there is no doubt that it is only a matter of time before Huang Taiji breaks the city.Once the city is broken, Daming will be over, and all the arguments including today will no longer exist.In the history books of later generations, there is no doubt that you, Yuan Chonghuan, will be described as a hero who died unjustly. You—at the price of sitting by and watching a dynasty perish, at the cost of sacrificing thousands of people and causing the loss of life—became a hero. Of course, the history books of later generations will not record our conversation today, you will be a flawless hero!But Yuan Chonghuan—are you really a hero? Yuan Chonghuan lowered his head. He wept. Liang Tingdong was in a complicated mood——Yu Dacheng, a talent from the 17th century, would soon rise up in the political arena of Ming Dynasty.what should I do?Alas, in the officialdom of the Ming Dynasty, it is really impossible without two knives. When Chongzhen got the handwriting written by Yuan Chonghuan, he still had a sense of accomplishment. Some things in this world are meant to persist. For example, he insisted on not giving Yuan Chonghuan an imperial edict, so he was right.Facts show that he tried Yuan Chonghuan's heart. I handwrite my heart.Yuan Chonghuan's handwritten letter to Zu Dashou fully demonstrated Yuan Chonghuan's sincerity. He, Yuan Chonghuan, still didn't sit idly by, for the sake of Daming Jiangshan. Even if I didn't make an imperial decree. So—did Yuan Chonghuan collaborate with the enemy? Chongzhen looked at the handwritten letter, and suddenly couldn't make up his mind. Chongzhen hated the indecision in his character. But indecision always finds him emotionally when his nose is sour, and makes him trapped in it, unable to extricate himself. Yuan Chonghuan - You annoy me! Chongzhen finally decided to observe Yuan Chonghuan for a period of time before making a judgment.As the old saying goes: Listen to what you say, watch what you do.The old saying is true. On the other hand, he sent a special messenger to take Yuan Chonghuan's handwriting and rush all the way to pursue Zu Dashou. At the same time, he ordered Sun Chengzong, a senior supervisor who had a good relationship with Zu Dashou, to use his personal influence to influence Zu Dashou.Of course, the most important thing is that Chongzhen himself wrote a sincere imperial decree-Chongzhen finally understood that the country is the most important.Only with a country can one have the face of a king.Yuan Chonghuan, who is in prison, can put the country first, what else can he Chongzhen not do? ! When Chongzhen's messengers chased after Zu Dashou, he and his team were only one day away from Jinzhou. Everything seems to be settled, but everything seems to be possible to turn around. When the messenger was about to read the imperial decree, Zu Dashou hesitated for a moment.He was considering whether to get off his horse and kneel to listen.It is really difficult for Zu Dashou to judge his identity now.Is it a traitor?He didn't clearly play the banner of anti-Ming; so is he still a soldier of Ming Dynasty?He and his troops stayed away from the battlefield.Zu Dashou turned his attention to his soldiers.The soldier's eyes were full of confusion. A coach who has lost his way, a group of soldiers who can't see the future.They are at both ends. Life is often the first and the second end.The two ends of the first mouse mean the end of a certain direction, but the beginning of N directions. I don't know which direction the wind is blowing.I am in a dream, in the soft waves of the dream. Zu Dashou dismounted.He stood there. The wind blew on his sharp-edged face and went away silently.The very hard and cold wind met him who was very hard and cold. The messenger looked at him, and he also looked at the messenger, without any intention of kneeling.The messenger hesitated for a moment, but still unfolded the imperial decree: "Zu Dashou, He Kegang, Zhang Hongmo, etc., are commendable for their bravery in bloody battles. I have spoken to the platform before, and I have made it clear that there is a difference between orders and opportunities, and that the army has magical effects. Now I believe in falsehoods and panic in haste. It is urgent to wake up to self-efficacy, or invite the thieves to return, or go straight to the lair. But if you work hard, things will be smooth. …” The imperial decree meant to ask Zu Dashou to take the blame and make meritorious deeds, but there was no news about Yuan Chonghuan in the imperial decree.Zu Dashou murmured in his heart: I rushed back today and made meritorious service to the emperor, but after the meritorious service, who can guarantee that I will not become the second Governor Yuan? Although the imperial decree was written with a vermilion pen, it is the most unreliable thing in the world.Because the Sacred Heart is unpredictable. The messenger waited for Zu Dashou to receive the imperial edict, but Zu Dashou did not move for a long time. But there is one thing that is more important than the imperial decree in the eyes of Zu Dashou, and that is Yuan Chonghuan's handwriting.When the messenger just took it out of his arms, Zu Dashou stepped forward and grabbed it. Yuan Chonghuan earnestly urged Zu Dashou in the handwriting to take the overall situation into consideration and come back quickly, even if there is a big grievance, he should not be a rebellious minister of Ming Dynasty.Because it concerns the conscience of a Ming citizen. Yuan Chonghuan's pensive handwriting made Zu Dashou read it till he broke down in tears.Conscience, conscience in troubled times, conscience in prison, conscience on Huangquan Road... Yuan Chonghuan's writing of conscience also made Liao soldiers cry.To go back or not to go back, that is definitely the question. To be honest, Zu Dashou really didn't want to rebel.He knew that Wo Lifan never ended well, but he was afraid that Chongzhen would doubt all his philosophy of life.There is nothing wrong with serving the country for the ancestor's birthday, but after the service is over, will it be settled by Qiuhou? But if they don't go back, what's the future for them?What is the future of Daming?To go back or not to go back, it's really a fucking question. Think about it, everyone, why are we leaving today?It is to let the court see our strength, and finally change Yuan Dushi's fate.Therefore, running away is just our way to save Governor Yuan, but now that the imperial court has seen our strength, he begged us to go back and kill the enemy. After killing the enemy, the emperor might let Governor Yuan go!Then why don't you go back?Because you are lost, and you regard the means as the end; or because you have ghosts in your heart, and you are afraid of being punished when you go back.But if you don't go back and give it a try, how will you know the final result? If you go back, Governor Yuan may still be saved; if you don't go back, Governor Yuan will definitely die!Because you are his subordinates, you are causing trouble for him now... It was the voice of an old lady in her eighties.She is the old mother of Zu Dashou who walked with the army.After she asked why, she said the above words.Everything can't be understood.Eighty is strength, and eighty makes everything easy. An old woman, in the cold wind of the twelfth lunar month in the second year of Chongzhen, changed the direction of a lost army, and also changed the fate of the Ming Dynasty to some extent.However, can she change the heart of a king who is as fleeting as lightning?