Chapter 123 Tianjin Dinner 1
Li Banghua sat on an embroidered cushion, waiting for Empress Dowager Zhou's reply. Embracing Prince Ding, Empress Dowager Zhou flipped through the memorials and asked, "Why didn't Zhao Xiaofei join the cabinet?"
"In reply to the Queen Mother! Marquis Zhongzhen is young and has little experience. It may be difficult for him to win the support of the people if he joins the cabinet!" said Li Banghua.
"Is he afraid that I will suspect him of being autocratic?" said Queen Mother Zhou.
"Lord Zhongzheng's loyalty to the Ming Dynasty is evident!" Li Banghua said hurriedly.
"This kid knows when to advance and when to retreat, and he knows his limits! Does he have any requests?" asked Queen Mother Zhou.
"Marquis Zhongzheng said he wanted to lead the troops and become a general! He hopes to recapture the capital one day!" said Li Banghua.
"He has great ambitions! Is he relying on his 3,000 escorts?" said Queen Mother Zhou.
"Marquis Zhongzhen is average at training his troops, but he has two men under him. One is called Wanshan and the other is called Zhou Shuai. They are both knowledgeable about military affairs. The one called Zhou Shuai even captured a female general who was a bandit on the road!" said Li Banghua.
"Oh? Do they hold official positions?" asked Empress Dowager Zhou.
"I did get the title of general of the militia!" said Li Banghua.
"What do you mean by low-ranking officials? They have been rewarded with the title of General Mingwei and General Guangwei for their contributions in saving the emperor." Empress Dowager Zhou immediately gave General Zhou and Wanshan the rank of fourth-rank military officers. This was clearly an attempt to poach Zhao Xiaofei!
"I understand!" said Li Banghua.
"Also, let Zhao Xiaofei join the cabinet. Doesn't he want to lead troops? Let him go to Jiangnan and recruit on his own. As for the money, you cabinet will find a way. No matter how difficult it is, we can't have vassal states!" Empress Dowager Zhou said. She knew the current army was too weak and needed to be recruited anew. However, she couldn't let the separatist regimes of the late Tang Dynasty return. No matter how difficult it was, she had to keep military funds in her own hands.
"I obey your order!" said Li Banghua.
"Go down! I'm a little tired!" said Queen Mother Zhou.
"I'm leaving!" Li Banghua stood up, bowed and left.
After Li Banghua left, Zhu Cijiong, who was sitting in his arms, asked, "Mother, why don't you let my brother-in-law lead the Tianjin army? Why do you have to let him recruit soldiers himself? Besides, my brother-in-law is very good at making money. Can't he let him cover the military expenses for our family first?"
"My son! When you grow up, you will understand your mother's feelings!" Queen Mother Zhou hugged her son and shed tears again.
At this moment, Zhao Xiaofei was being held by Kunxing, refusing to let go. Princess Kunxing cried, "I won't let you take any risks! With Zhou Shuai and Wanshan and the others around, what are you going to do?"
"They are not the prince consort, can they transfer Feng Shengshi here?" Zhao Xiaofei said.
"You are going to be the bait. What should I do if something unexpected happens?" Princess Kunxing said.
"How about this! Let's go together?" Zhao Xiaofei said.
"What should I do?" asked Princess Kunxing.
"Be the executioner and lie in ambush in the yard. Wait until Feng Shengshi and the others get drunk, then shoot them to death in secret!" said Zhao Xiaofei.
"Okay! This will make me feel relieved!" Princess Kunxing showed a firm look.
Zhao Xiaofei had already arranged for someone to enter Tianjin Wei to contact Zhao Xinhui. Zhao Xinhui was very willing to help the court take control of Tianjin City. Moreover, Zhao Xiaofei also promised to confer the title of First Rank Wu San and a noble title!
Zhao Xinhui proposed to pretend to discuss surrendering to Li Zicheng with Feng Shengshi, then treated him to a drink. He also told him that he had captured the Ming emperor's son-in-law, the Marquis of Loyalty. Feng Shengshi would undoubtedly be jealous of Zhao Xinhui and likely intend to claim Zhao Xiaofei's head. He would then claim the reward.
So they executed their plan, with Zhao Xiaofei acting as bait. Zhao Xinhui, a man in his thirties with a broad face and broad ears, exuded an air of authority even when he sat there. He had previously been hesitant about Zhao Xiaofei's recognition, but now he was absolutely willing. With such a generous offer, he might even further enrich his family. Furthermore, Zhao Xiaofei had agreed to distribute the overdue military pay to the soldiers on behalf of the imperial court.
This reassured Zhao Xinhui, because even if he plotted to kill Feng Shengshi, the army might mutiny without the silver. Without many soldiers, there would be no strength, and Zhao Xinhui would have little power in the new court. Therefore, distributing the silver and stabilizing the army's morale was of paramount importance. Zhao Xiaofei took out 100,000 taels of silver he had previously hidden in Tianjin and gave it to Zhao Xinhui as military expenses.
At the Zhao Residence, Zhao Xinhui was in the study, listening to a report from his subordinate, Zhao Danian. "Sir! Feng Shengshi said he'll definitely keep the appointment tonight! He hopes you can hand over the consort to him, and he said he'll commend you in front of the King of Rebellion!"
"Okay! Let's do it according to the plan tonight! Call the brothers who can drink the most in the camp, and have them toast one by one. Whoever can get Mr. Feng drunk first will be rewarded with 500 taels of silver!" said Zhao Xinhui.
"Yes! Thank you for the reward!" Zhao Danian said. Zhao Danian was the most drinker among Zhao Xinhui's men. He was confident that he could get Feng Shengshi drunk.
"Go down and get ready!" said Zhao Xinhui.
At night, Zhao Xiaofei was tied up in the hall of the Zhao Mansion. Feng Shengshi, along with his capable men and two generals, came to the Zhao Mansion for a banquet. Feng Shengshi had already heard that the capital had fallen and Li Zicheng had entered the capital to proclaim himself emperor. The country was named Dashun and the reign was Yongchang. He felt that the Ming Dynasty was definitely doomed and was thinking of joining a new master. The day before yesterday, he heard that three thousand troops had arrived outside the city, possibly defeated soldiers fleeing from the capital. He wanted to recruit these people to strengthen his own power. However, Zhao Xinhui got ahead of him and told him that he had gathered three thousand defeated soldiers from the capital. If he wanted these three thousand soldiers, he would give him thirty thousand taels of silver to appease them.
When Feng Shengshi heard they wanted 30,000 taels of silver, he immediately refused. He wondered what else could he do with 30,000 taels of silver? Even if Zhao Xinhui had 3,000 defeated soldiers, how much strength would they have? So he simply refused it, and planned to wait for the Dashun court to send someone, then surrender himself and, by the way, give his lieutenant a bad name. He would accuse him of criticizing the Dashun government, leaving Zhao with a bitter taste in his mouth.
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