Preamble:
When the news of Zhang Juzheng's death came, Qi Jiguang greeted him with a bitter smile, and people couldn't help but wonder: Why did he laugh so miserably after learning the news, claiming that "my good days are over"? This is a deep and puzzling mystery, is it the end of friendship or the bumpy fate? Does Zhang Juzheng's death open up the variables of Qi Jiguang's future?
1. Who expected Zhang Juzheng to achieve Qi Jiguang's anti-Japanese reputation
In 1567, the rebellion in the south intensified, and the imperial court was shocked. Fortunately, Qi Jiguang and Tan Gang and other fierce generals encircled and suppressed in a good way, and finally exterminated the Japanese invaders. At that time, Zhang Juzheng rose to the occasion and entered the cabinet to participate in politics. Six years later, Zhang Juzheng became a scholar of Shoufu University.
Unlike Qi Jiguang, Zhang Juzheng did not go to the front line in person. He used scheming to support General Qi in the court. It is precisely because of Zhang Juzheng's cover that Qi Jiguang was able to make great contributions and become famous.
Of course, Zhang's support also stops at the political level. Qi Jiguang's plan for the Northern Expedition to the Central Plains, Zhang Juzheng never agreed with it. After all, he needs to balance the forces of all parties, and he can't rely on Qi Jiguang alone. But Zhang Juzheng trusted Qi Jiguang and supported him at a critical moment, and Qi Jiguang finally became the first person to resist the Japanese.
Second, Zhang Juzheng has become a complete Qi Jiguang and rises step by step
In 1577, after Tan Gang's death, Zhang Juzheng directly corresponded frequently with Qi Jiguang. The relationship between the two grew closer. Zhang Juzheng has repeatedly resent his cronies to Jizhou to assist Qi Jiguang. In 1580, Zhang Juzheng recommended his protégé Liang Menglong to be the governor of Jiliao, and the letter specifically mentioned: "Qu is the protégé of Lonely, the thickest, and forgiveness is not negative." To show his trust in Qi Jiguang.
Zhang Juzheng resolved the disputes between Qi Jiguang and other generals many times, and also explicitly ordered the border generals not to find Qi Jiguang's trouble. All of this shows Zhang Juzheng's reliance on Qi Jiguang. With the support of Zhang Juzheng, Qi Jiguang has achieved unprecedented development, and Jizhou's power has expanded rapidly.
At the same time, the two also take care of each other. When Zhang Juzheng returned to his hometown in 1582, Qi Jiguang quietly arranged for more than 100 personal soldiers to protect him. Zhang Juzheng modestly refused the team, while Qi Jiguang only sent 6 people to follow him in order to take care of the other party.
Third, Zhang Juzheng caused himself to suffer because of Qi Jiguang's grievances
The friendship of sympathy does not mean that the two have never had differences. In the winter of 1575, Zhang Juzheng was furious when he found out the truth that Qi Jiguang was plagued by inferior military supplies, and reported the matter to Empress Dowager Li. It turned out that this matter involved the corruption and bribery of Li Wei, the father of Empress Dowager Li. Zhang Juzheng showed no mercy, which directly led to Li Wei being demoted. This seriously hurt Empress Dowager Li's face.
In the future, Emperor Wanli opposed Zhang Juzheng, and Empress Dowager Li did not come to the rescue, which was also related to this matter. Zhang Juzheng saw that Qi Jiguang was suffering from inferior military supplies, and he did not hesitate to anger the powerful, which shows that the two have a lot of feelings. However, the righteous killing of relatives, Zhang Juzheng ignored himself for Qi Jiguang, which is also embarrassing.
Fourth, Zhang Juzheng was killed, and Qi Jiguang has been in a slump since then
In 1582, Zhang Juzheng was forced to resign and return to his hometown, and the power-leaning Shoufu withdrew from politics. Not long after, Zhang Juzheng fell seriously ill and died. This hit Qi Jiguang hard, and he lost his most powerful backer.
Emperor Wanli transferred Qi Jiguang to Nanjing, away from the center of power. Qi Jiguang had to leave Jizhou and became more and more decadent. No one was in control of the Qi army anymore, the Jiliao army was defeated, and the border defense of the Ming Dynasty was in danger.
At this time, the Jurchen soldiers were strong and strong, and the Houjin power was strong. Without Zhang Juzheng's integration and Qi Jiguang's guard, the Ming court was in internal and external difficulties, and entered the situation of Wanli's prosperity and decline, which can be described as a great worry. There is no doubt that Zhang Ju is the hero of Qi Jiguang. If it weren't for his untimely death, the Ming Dynasty might have been a different story. Back then, they could have fought side by side, and this miss was really embarrassing.
Fifth, Zhang Juzheng's official fortune is prosperous, and Qi Jiguang inherits his light temperature
Zhang Juzheng was born in Jiajing 41 years, and has been brilliant since he was a child, and is known as a "prodigy". At the age of seventeen, he was promoted to the rank of scholar at the age of twenty-four, and the official road was smooth sailing. Zhang Juzheng won the support of the people during his tenure as the prefect of Hanyang, and was later promoted to the head of the Nanjing Ministry of Industry. In the first year of Wanli, Zhang Juzheng began to participate in the confidential situation and gradually took over the power of the first assistant.
Unlike Zhang Juzheng, Qi Jiguang started as a small school captain, fought bloody battles, and relied on his military exploits to rise step by step. After the anti-Japanese war, Qi Jiguang commanded the envoy to guard the Beijing division and attack Jizhou. Zhang Juzheng saw Qi Jiguang's talent, and the two became acquainted. With the support of Zhang Juzheng, Qi Jiguang was able to develop his ambitions and gradually became an important force in the frontier of the Ming Dynasty.
Sixth, Zhang Juzheng avoided disaster in the township, and Qi Jiguang secretly helped each other
In the tenth year of Wanli, Zhang Juzheng was forced to resign as the first assistant. The following year, he was attacked and returned to his hometown of Wuchang to avoid disaster. Qi Jiguang learned that Zhang Juzheng was being persecuted and secretly supported him. It is said that Qi Jiguang once sent 100 personal soldiers to escort him, but was rejected by the modest Zhang Juzheng, leaving only 6 people with him.
This fully shows the depth of the personal relationship between the two. Even though Zhang Juzheng no longer has real power, Qi Jiguang still sacrifices his life to help, which shows that their relationship is far more than ordinary.
Seventh, Zhang Juzheng is worried about the country and the people, and Qi Jiguang is dedicated to border defense
Zhang Juzheng was well versed in the overall situation and worried that the decline of agriculture would lead to an empty treasury. Therefore, he vigorously developed agriculture and mulberry, and reduced taxes to alleviate people's hardship. In contrast, Qi Jiguang is more focused on border defense. He spared no effort to strengthen the defense of Jizhou, and at the same time advocated the Northern Expedition to Mongolia to recover the lost territory. This became one of the main differences between the two.
But Zhang Juzheng did not despise Qi Jiguang's contribution to border defense. On the contrary, he fully supported Qi Jiguang to guard the frontier. It is precisely because of the two-pronged approach of internal and external troubles that the national fortune of the Ming Dynasty has been continued.
8. Zhang Juzheng suffered and Qi Jiguang was indignant
In the eleventh year of Wanli, Zhang Juzheng was seriously ill and knew that the deadline was approaching. He returned to politics and expressed his efforts to govern the country over the past 30 years.
After Zhang Juzheng's death, his family and henchmen were severely punished. Qi Jiguang was extremely angry about this, but he had no choice but to return to the sky. Qi Jiguang, who could have worked hand in hand with Zhang Juzheng to strategize, could only be sad at this time.
After Zhang Juzheng's death, the border defense became increasingly empty. Qi Jiguang was transferred out of Jiliao, and the Ming Dynasty's territory was finally troubled. Qi Jiguang, who lost Zhang Juzheng's partner, knew at this time that he had missed a golden opportunity.
9. Zhang Juzheng is far-sighted Qi Jiguang is reckless and heroic
Zhang Juzheng governs the country and uses troops, is far-sighted, and is good at strategizing to win a thousand miles. He attaches importance to development and makes the country strong by enriching the people.
And Qi Jiguang has a strong temperament, and he is very happy on the battlefield. He took the Northern Expedition to the Central Plains as his own responsibility and spared no effort to run the Jiliao Forbidden Army. Qi Jiguang's political skills are not as good as Zhang Juzheng's, but his military talent is second to none.
It is precisely because of the complementarity of the two that they have achieved the heyday of each other's careers. If they can work together to strategize, the situation in the Ming Dynasty may take on a different picture.
epilogue
Zhang Juzheng seems to reuse Qi Jiguang, but in fact, he is isolated from the center of power. When Qi Jiguang traveled thousands of miles to help Beijing, Zhang Juzheng deliberately supported him outside, but in fact, he was to prevent surveillance. During the reign of Zhang Juzheng, although Qi Jiguang's Jiliao army was unprecedentedly developed, his real power was greatly reduced. Qi Jiguang was forced to follow Zhang Juzheng's will and gradually became passive.
Zhang Juzheng trusts Qi Jiguang on the surface, but in fact, he plays with him between applause. Qi Jiguang was overwhelmed, and finally became a chess piece in Zhang Juzheng's power plot. It wasn't until Zhang Juzheng was cut that Qi Jiguang's predicament was exposed.