The war in Anqing Prefecture did not progress as quickly as expected.

Zhang Tianlu did not surrender, and Zhai Zhe did not rush to attack. Tens of thousands of troops surrounded Anqing City. The messenger of General Pinglu summoned the rebel army to Yinghuoshan District, where the troops of Yuan Zuo Liangyu were active. After Zuo Liangyu's death, hundreds of thousands of troops under his command were scattered everywhere like the seeds of dandelions. Some defected to the Qing army, some fled and scattered, and many people raised the anti-Qing righteous flag.

After Liu Suifeng sent the news about Huguang, Zhai Zhe had a general understanding of He Tengjiao's attitude.

In early April, General Zhai Zhe, the Pinglu General, wrote a letter to the court, asking Emperor Longwu to issue an order to order the governor of Huguang He Tengjiao to lead his army eastward and join forces with the troops in Jiangnan to attack Huguang.

Before going to the war, Zhai Zhe didn't want to force He Tengjiao too much. After all, Huguang was newly defeated, and he could understand He Tengjiao's difficulties. But now he has to do this. The imperial edict is not easy to use in some places, but still very effective in some places.

He Tengjiao can't cover the sky with one hand in Huguang.

The cabinet discussed for a long time and reached an agreement. Ma Shiying personally drafted the memorial and asked Emperor Longwu Zhu Youjian to issue an order. Ma Shiying guessed that Emperor Longwu's thoughts were just asking He Tengjiao to advance eastward and cooperated with General Pinglu Zhai Zhe to attack Huguang, but did not formulate who would be the commander.

The memorial was handed over, like a rock sinking into the sea.

Zhu Youjian did not approve or refute it, and the matter was dragged on.

If it were the New Year, Zhu Youjian would have issued this order without hesitation. However, after Zhu Dadian returned home due to a fraud case in the scientific research, Zhai Zhe's cabinet authorized the admirals of Nanzhili and Zhejiang, there was a greater threat than the Qing emperors.

He is very conflicted.

Huguang must not be in the hands of Zhai Zhe anymore, otherwise everything will be out of control.

The few people in the cabinet looked like a pool of stagnant water, and a stone that would not bubble when thrown in it.

Ma Shiying's memorial was mentioned as an explanation to Zhai Zhe. The matter was stuck with the emperor, so he had no need to force Emperor Longwu to death. What's more, he came to power because of Zhai Zhe's support, but he was not willing to see Zhai Zhe's power expanding too much. He had already reached the extreme of a minister as a minister. He was now focused on expanding the authority of the Prime Minister, rather than being limited to Yingtian Prefecture.

The atmosphere here is unprecedentedly solemn.

Zong Mao put down all the work on his hand.

For the first time, he and Chen Zilong cooperated equally on one thing, that was, let the emperor issue an order to order He Tengjiao to advance eastward. Zhai Zhe could not escape under the city of Anqing, so the matter was handed over to these two people.

On April 3, Xu Fuyuan, the military officer, reported to impeach He Tengjiao for his defeat, and asked to dismiss the governor of Huguang He Tengjiao, and asked the governor Du Yinxi to take charge of the war in Huguang. Xu Fuyuan was a scholar of several communities, and only Chen Zilong could persuade him.

Zhai Zhe was warning Zhu Youjian that he would either issue an order to let He Tengjiao advance eastward or not let him sit in that position safely. The incompetent deeds of He Tengjiao's military commander began to spread in the south of the Yangtze River, and the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet Zhang Guowei asked to discuss He Tengjiao's crimes.

On April 6, Chen Zilong, the left assistant minister of the Governor of Zhejiang, requested to discuss the crime of defeat in Huguang.

When Zong Mao arrived in Nanjing, he asked for a meeting with the cabinet chief Ma Shiying. He was a scholar who passed the Datong exam seven years ago and did not have a formal official position in the court, but he was not frightened when he walked in the cabinet chief's mansion.

But Ma Shiying was very polite and ordered the servant to watch the seat.

Zong Mao went straight in and said, "I'm here today just for one thing! The general's intention is that he must ask for this imperial edict!"

His tone was very arrogant, and Ma Shiying didn't like it very much. After all, he was the chief minister of the cabinet, and Zhai Zhe would do some superficial skills in front of him.

"I have read the letter from the General, but His Majesty has not issued an order, and I have no choice!"

Zong Mao shook his head, "Your Majesty is ruling, but the military situation cannot be delayed."

Ma Shiying's face sank and she said, "I have no choice."

"Ma Gemen!" Zong Mao laughed instead of anger, "You really can't see who is Jiangnan today? Who is the world today?"

His words almost shocked Ma Shiying's eyes. These words could only be discussed behind their backs. Who dared to say them in public? In front of the cabinet chief minister.

His face darkened and he said, "Sect Master, don't talk nonsense. It would be bad for the general to make his reputation!"

Zong Mao laughed, "How could it be spread today? Ma Ge, I know you are a rare hero among literati. When Zhang Pu died, you were the only one who held funerals for him; Zhou Yanru's descendants were only the general and you who could still help. Then you should know how you took the position of the prime minister when Jiangnan scholars and Donglin Party members were both opposite you."

Ma Shiying's tone became stern and said, "General Zhai has great kindness to me, there is no need to say much, but this is the court!"

"Isn't the general for the court?" Zong Mao's tone became eased, "This imperial edict is related to the success or failure of the battle in Huguang. If Huguang does not progress smoothly, I am afraid that you will not be at ease in the position of prime minister."

Ma Shiying's heart thumped. Looking at the arrogant young man in front of him, he suddenly thought, "Is this what Zhai Zhe meant?"

In Zong Mao's eyes, the cabinets and even the emperor in Nanjing were just puppets, and it was inevitable that the general would become emperor. There were many people in the army who had this idea. Zong Mao used his identity as the head of the General's Mansion to reunite some such people around.

"What should I do as the sect leader?" Ma Shiying's tone softened.

"Please submit another report to your Majesty!"

"But your Majesty can still ignore it."

"I have my own way!"

Zong Mao said goodbye and left, Ma Shiying felt uneasy.

The court and the country were talking about He Tengjiao, so Zhu Youjian simply refused to go to court and hid in the palace and did not come out. He was very angry, but He Tengjiao was in the wrong case, but he had to let Zhai Zhe know that he was not a puppet of General Pinglu.

Four or five days later, an explosion-like news spread from eastern Zhejiang to Nanjing City, and King Zhu Yihai of Lu arrived in Hangzhou from Taizhou.

Last year, when Zhai Zhe used the anti-shave order to shave the order in Jiangnan, the name of King Lu was everywhere. As soon as he arrived in Hangzhou, many gentry immediately came to pay their respects.

A few days later, news came from Hangzhou that Zhu Yihai was going to Nanjing City to worship the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum.

Ma Shiying was panicked, Chen Zilong was panicked. Zhu Yihai went north along the canal and accepted Zhang Mingzhen's visit at the Songjiang area. The group actually headed straight for Nanjing City.

A court official immediately submitted an impeachment, saying that Zhu Yihai violated the ancestral system and left the fief without authorization.

Emperor Longwu finally came forward and issued an order to order the general of the Beijing camp Xiao Zhiyan and Zheng Sen to send troops to capture Zhu Yihai. After Xiao Zhiyan discussed with Zheng Sen, the two of them sent 500 soldiers to intercept him on the way. Xiao Zhiyan didn't know if this was Zhai's intention, so he urgently ordered the messenger to ask An Qing for instructions.

Zhu Yihai arrived at the Songjiang border and stopped moving. He wanted to enter Nanjing, but he couldn't help it.
Chapter completed!