Capital City, Xie Mansion.

Xie Qian was on duty in the cabinet and did not sleep for a day or a night. When he returned home the next morning, he was exhausted. But when he came back, he only gave a few words to leave home again. Xie Qian had just explained to Mrs. Xu a few words, telling Mrs. Xu that he could not go home these days, but he saw his son Xie Pi bringing his book into the study.

Xie Pi bowed and learned that his father was going to leave after he came back. He immediately asked: "Father, why are you so in a hurry? Could it be that something happened in the capital?"

Xie Qian was not resting enough, and he couldn't help but feel restless and scolded: "What does the matter in the court have to do with you? Just complete your exam preparation seriously!"

Xie Pi was scolded by his father and felt dizzy. He was already twenty-one years old and had all his sons, but in Xie Qian's eyes, he was still a child who never grew up.

But as a son, he could not refute his father, so Xie Pi could only accept it with helplessness.

Xie Pi was about to leave and go back to study in the backyard, but the housekeeper came in and reported to his father: "Master, Ma Shangshu of the Ministry of Personnel and Xiong of the Ministry of War are here!"

Xie Qian frowned and said in a bad tone: "It's him again, do you think I'm not upset enough? The family doesn't have to prepare meals anymore. I'll leave now. I won't go back to the mansion in the past few days. If the capital is besieged by bandits, remember to close the door of the mansion and be on high alert at the same time to prevent refugees from entering the mansion!"

Mrs. Xu asked in surprise: "Master, have the thieves come to the capital?"

Xie Qian said: "It's useless to ask more questions. Make arrangements earlier. Don't wait until things happen before making preparations. It's too late... In addition, taking advantage of the peace in the past two days, if there is anything in the mansion that needs to be purchased, don't delay. If there are any jewelry and jades at home, you will sell them soon."

In prosperous jewelry and troubled times, gold will depreciate greatly when the jewelry and jade will depreciate greatly. Xie Qian is a person who cares about everyone and the Xiao family. Since he knows the situation in advance, he will naturally not sit idly by and watch his wealth depreciate. Going home to say hello is considered to avoid risks.

Xie Qian left the study room and came to the front yard. He saw Ma Wensheng and Xiong Xiu at a glance. He felt angry and thought to himself: "You kept talking in the court. Now you finally came home, but you came to annoyance again... Shen Xi's child's life and death are uncertain. My granddaughter may have become a widow now. Why don't you understand my current mood?"

Ma Wensheng greeted Xie Qian from afar: "Yu Qiao, I'm here to talk to you about the precautions of the capital!"

Xiong Xiu seemed quite low-key, one step behind Ma Wen, and looked respectful.

"I'm in a hurry to return to the cabinet. Let's talk about anything on the way!"

Xie Qian spoke and left the mansion, asking casually: "What can't be discussed in the court? I have to go to my mansion? Don't you both need to go back to the mansion and explain it?"

Among the three, Xie Qian was the youngest, but he called himself an old man. Xiong Xiu felt that his old face was a little hot, but Ma Wensheng didn't mind much and still smiled.

Xiong Xiu quickly saluted: "Just just returned to the mansion, I have informed him."

"That's it. The northern invaders are approaching. Shangshu Liu is still waiting in Ningxia Town to reward merits. The two of them do not go to draft a list of rewards at their discretion. Why did they come to my house?"

Xie Qian was sarcastic and complained that Ma Wensheng, Xiong Xiu and others had "harmed" Shen Xi. He had always trained Shen Xi as his successor. Who knew that the suggestion made by Shen Xi after leading the troops to war was not adopted by the court, which led to the end of being surrounded by Tumu Fort. It is believed that the city had been destroyed by the city now.

Xiong Xiu wanted to say something, but was stopped by Ma Wensheng.

Ma Wensheng knew the temper of Xie Qian, a "little friend", and there were so many top civil officials in the court, and the most willful one was Xie Qian.

"Yu Qiao, it's not convenient to talk here. Let's go to Wenyuan Pavilion together."

Ma Wensheng knew that to talk about things, he must first calm Xie Qian's mood. He did not want to have a gap between civil officials when he needed to be devoted to the outside world.

Xie Qian shook his sleeves and did not get on the carriage. He walked all the way to Donghuamen with Ma Wensheng and Xiong Xiu.

What Ma Wensheng is most concerned about at present is Xie Qian's view of the Tatar soldiers entering the capital. He said while walking: "Yu Qiao had a lot of insights and visions about the situation of the war before. He abandoned the influence of Chen Xi to Qiao. As the Minister of War, Yu Qiao should also shoulder the responsibility of mobilizing troops and dispatching generals!"

Xie Qian looked at Ma Wensheng with a strange expression: "Liu Shiyong is still on the three sides now. When will it be the turn of the cabinet ministers to take responsibility for the dispatch of troops? Ma Shangshu was not the Minister of War before?"

Ma Wensheng was the former Minister of War, but Xie Qian was the "current" Minister of War.

Emperor Hongzhi was very courteous to the cabinet ministers. The court's emphasis on the cabinet ministers had begun to reach the peak of the Hongzhi Dynasty. The cabinet ministers were not of high rank and could enter the cabinet if they were at the fifth rank. This made the cabinet ministers not as respected as they imagined. The method adopted by Emperor Hongzhi was to let the cabinet ministers serve as officials such as the Six Ministers, and thus the status was immediately changed.

Xie Qian's part-time job was the Minister of War.

However, the court had a full-time Minister of War. Xie Qian believed that he could not control the military affairs. However, when the Minister of War Liu Daxia was not here, Ma Wensheng wanted to recommend Xie Qian out to be in charge.

Ma Wensheng said: "I am old and old, old and dizzy, and I cannot bear this great task, so as not to mislead the country and the people. At that time, I will become a sinner for the ages!"

Xie Qian glared at Ma Wensheng and thought to himself: "Okay, you Ma Huo, I'm afraid of becoming a sinner forever. Am I not afraid? You said you are dizzy and I'm not a young man with a strong spirit now. Everyone can be at most. If you want me to be a chore, there is no door!"

Xie Qian shi said: "I am not talented and knowledgeable, and I must not be competent. If Shangshu Ma wants to recommend the court, it is better to choose others, or to use Liu Shaofu as the main force!"

Ma Wensheng said angrily: "Yu Qiao, do you really think that Master Liu is the right candidate?"

Of course, Xie Qian didn't think that Liu Jian was the right candidate, because in the past two years, Liu Jian did not do his job in his position. He relied on his reputation and majesty to stay in his current position. The specific job was basically done by him and Li Dongyang, and Xie Qian had long complained about this.

But he dared not speak out, because the emperor valued and trusted Liu Jian more, believing that Liu Jian was the best person to preside over the overall situation when inheriting the throne. Zhu Youzu kept Liu Jian in the court mainly to prepare for Zhu Houzhao's ascension to the throne.

When it comes to his mouth, Xie Qian's words were different: "Liu Gongduan's reputation has long been there. Apart from him, he can make a final decision. It seems that only the civil and military officials in the court, Ma Shangshu, have this prestige, right?"

Xie Qian said this, meaning, if you don’t recommend Liu Jian, then do it yourself, anyway, you have to choose one among you.

The conversation between the two was almost quarreling, which made Xiong Xiu, who was following behind, feel dissatisfied.

Xiong Xiu pondered: "As the Minister of War, I am proficient in military strategies. Liu Shangshu is not in the capital. Shouldn't I take charge of major military affairs?"

Xiong Xiu thought so in his heart, but he didn't dare to say it. After all, he was just a third-rank minister and could not compare with the two in front of him. Although Xie Qian was a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet and was not a tribe, he was from a Hanlin family. In terms of the emperor's valuation, Xie Qian was definitely ranked in the top five among so many ministers in the court.

Ma Wensheng did not want to recommend Liu Jian. The three of them had already arrived at Donghua Gate before they knew it. As soon as they entered the palace, eunuchs from the Silijian came to greet them.

Before he walked far, he saw a team coming towards him. Xie Qian took a look and looked a little embarrassed. The prince and his party came in front of him.

"Mr. Xie, Shangshu Ma, where are you going?"

Zhu Houzhao's eyes were sharp-eyed. When she saw Xie Qian and Ma Wensheng, she came over to say hello immediately.

"See Your Highness the Crown Prince!"

Ma Wensheng and Xie Qian saluted respectfully.

Zhu Houzhao smiled and raised his hand: "The two beloved ministers are exempted from courtesy. I know that the Tartars have arrived in the capital. Today's negotiations are the candidates to take charge of the overall situation, right?"

Xie Qian thought about it and told him frankly: "This is exactly what happened to the Crown Prince. Although there are seven ministers who jointly discuss major military affairs, the country is in trouble, and someone must make a decision immediately. If the snake has no head, it will not work. Your Majesty is sick, so someone should share your worries!"

Zhu Houzhao Zheng pointed at the key point: "Mr. Xie is indeed my loyal minister of the Ming Dynasty!"

This evaluation was too high, which made Xie Qian feel mixed with flavors. He himself didn't think he was a "loyal minister" because he threatened the emperor with the means of resignation, saying that as long as the emperor sent Chen Xi to the northwest, he would resign and not do it, and even prove his ambition by death.

Ma Wensheng narrowed his eyes and looked at Zhu Houzhao and asked, "I wonder who is the prince?"

Zhu Houzhao seemed to have been waiting for Ma Wensheng to ask this, laughed and said, "Shangshu Ma, I do have a choice here, and I think he is the most suitable one. If possible, please... two of you will help me to make peace!"

Xie Qian almost blurted out who it was, but after thinking about it, Chen Xi, who was highly praised by Zhu Houzhao, was not there. Does Zhu Houzhao want to release two uncles?

Ma Wensheng said: "The prince is saying..."

Zhu Houzhao grinned and patted her chest: "Two Qing families, how do you think... what do you think of this palace?"

Even though Ma Wensheng and Xie Qian were already thinking about accepting some absurd words from the prince, they couldn't help but look at each other when they heard this.

In theory, the emperor was seriously ill and asked the prince to take charge of the overall situation. There was no problem at all. It could be said that other people were not suitable except Zhu Houzhao.

But the problem is that now we are not looking for someone to take charge of the center, but looking for those who can do practical things. We have to go to the Ministry of War, the Governor's Office of the Five Army, the Beijing Camp, the Nine Gate Defense and other departments to make reasonable arrangements and go deep into the army to boost morale. During the war, this person has to take on the heavy responsibility of commanding in front of the formation, just like Yu Qian after the Tumu Fort Incident.

At that time, Emperor Jingtai was in charge of the overall situation, but the real person in charge was still the ministers in the court. The emperor only played a role in stabilizing the morale of the army in the national war.
Chapter completed!