Chapter 044 Going to Beijing to Report Work
'boom...'
"Fuck..." Chen Cao felt his hands were a little numb. That was because he was unprepared: "Father Tang, did you do this?"
Tang Ruowang made the sign of the cross, and then said sincerely: "In 1554, Lord Jefferson, the rear admiral of the Grand Duchy of Wales, had a naval battle with the Spanish Navy in the Strait of Gibraltar. Lord Jefferson won a great victory and captured a Ming craftsman from them, and then created It became the number one musket in the West; it was introduced into the Roman Empire several times, and now all the upper class people, lords and nobles have a musket for self-defense.”
"Didn't my Ming Dynasty already have it?" Chen Cao frowned.
Tang Ruowang nodded: "The stuff from Tianchao Shangguo must be excellent, but it's just not improved. Every time you load the gun, you have to tighten the gun tightly, otherwise it will fall out;" He said and put the improved gun The small gun was handed to Chen Cao: "Sir, please take a look. After it was modified according to your drawings, there is a small rear sight. After the paper shell bullet is bitten and inserted, the gunpowder will not fall out even if the muzzle is raised. , violent shaking is no problem.”
"Well," Chen Cao looked at the gun carefully. Although it was much worse than a real pistol, it was at least an excellent self-defense weapon: "The small thing is the fine workmanship. Make a few first, and then talk about it." other things."
"As ordered..." Tang Ruowang made the sign of the cross again: "Dear sir, on behalf of the Holy See, I would like to thank you for your kindness. The church on Xuanwu Hunan Street has been completed. Thank you for your help."
"How about it, are there many religious people?" Chen Cao said with a slight smile.
"If there is, everyone in the world will be able to accept the call of the Lord, and the gospel of the kingdom of heaven will be spread to the kingdom above. Even if I die here, it will be the Lord's gift to me."
Chen Cao couldn't stand Tang Ruowang's nagging at him. The old man's main purpose was to make Chen Cao believe in religion, but Chen Cao was the kind of person who was not afraid of anything. He scorned ghosts and gods. After all, he had received modern education.
"Sir," Xin Zhao approached with a smile on his face: "Sir, there is a letter from the White House, please come."
The savior is coming
Chen Cao reluctantly expressed to Tang Ruowang that he had something to leave. Even so, Father Tang still said to see Chen Cao off as he walked.
"Sir, why can't my subordinates understand what Father Tang said?" Zhao Xin turned around and glanced at Tang Ruowang, who was still chattering.
Chen Cao looked calm: "You have to go find Father Tang when you are free. He has important things to tell you, and he also has some good things from Taixi for you."
"Seriously?" Xin Zhao said, turning around and running back.
Chen Cao grabbed him and said, "You bastard, follow me to the Bai Mansion first, and you can go find him in private."
Then Zhao Xin looked excited, "Okay..."
...
Chen Cao had some shadows about the Bai Mansion. He couldn't believe that the shit he drank must be the product of the Bai sisters. Thinking of this, Chen Cao just walked to the door of the Bai Mansion and held on to the stone lion beside the door to vomit.
"Sir..." Zhao Xin quickly stepped forward and patted Chen Cao on the back: "Are you okay?"
Chen Cao wiped his mouth: "Fortunately, I just have some reaction in my stomach. Let's go in."
There were only two Bai sisters in the lobby of the Bai Mansion, not even a single servant to serve them. Chen Cao frowned and whispered to Xin Zhao behind him: "It feels like he is singing the Hongmen Banquet. ..”
Bai Magnolia's face was not very good, and Bai Xinlan sat on one side with her head down, wringing her handkerchief and saying nothing.
Chen Cao sat down on the chair very skillfully, but no one said anything, and then waved Zhao Xin to retreat: "You two girls, why are you so anxious to find Chen?"
"Sir, it's a good thing..." Bai Magnolia's tone made Chen Cao feel jealous.
Chen Cao frowned, and then said: "Chen always does good things, doesn't Miss Bai know?"
Bai Magnolia was a little anxious and said: "Sir, you are still joking. What you did last time in my house was what a gentleman would do?"
Chen Cao's eyes were running wildly, and he slapped the coffee table next to him in desperation: "Insolent..."
Boom...
Xin Zhao drew his knife and ran into the lobby, standing in front of Chen Cao.
Both women were startled. Chen Cao quickly pushed Zhao Xin away and let him out. Then he stood up and said angrily: "I am a high-ranking official in Jinling Guards. I have lost all face in your house and become a big joke in Jinling City." I have never blamed you sisters, what’s the matter? After drinking a few mouthfuls of your shit, you still dare to criticize me. Do you really think that I am so easy to bully?"
"Sir, actually..." Bai Xinlan couldn't help but speak.
Chen Cao raised his hand to stop Bai Xinlan, then took a step forward. He was probably less than half a meter away from Bai Magnolia. He stared at Bai Magnolia and said in a bad tone: "I met you and gave you poems and songs. You are like this." To me? What I hate the most in my life is that the person I like talks to me with mean words, you..."
Before Chen Cao finished speaking, Magnolia burst into tears, biting her lip and trembling all over. Although Chen Cao was very angry, he still couldn't stand the woman crying, so he stopped what he was saying, sighed and whispered Said: "Don't cry, I'm a little excited."
Bai Xinlan was also sad. She walked to Bai Magnolia to comfort her sister, then stared at Chen Cao and said, "Today is not what Mr. Chen said. My sister came to you to discuss my matter."
Bai Xinlan also cried while saying this.
Chen Cao was confused now and asked quickly: "What are we discussing with you?"
"I..." Bai Xinlan cried, "Mr. Chen, I'm pregnant..."
"ah..."
This time, he was really confused. Chen Cao felt his head was buzzing, but when he turned around, he realized that he was still a bit nervous. She got pregnant just that time. Of course, her health was good.
Then he thought about Bai Magnolia's demeanor and tone when he came in, as well as the fact that there was no servant in the hall. No wonder it was like this, so he hurriedly bowed towards Bai Magnolia and said, "Miss Bai, Chen is abrupt, it's Chen who is wrong. "
"Ah..." These Magnolias started crying completely, they were so sad...
It's rare for a clever person like Chen Cao to panic. In the panic, he heard Zhao Xin calling Chen Cao outside the hall.
"Sir," Xin Zhao waved, "Don't you have documents from Duke Bao Guo?"
Yes...
Chen Cao was awakened immediately, and then walked back to the lobby very calmly, and said to Bai Xinlan: "Xinlan, you will be pregnant if you are pregnant. That is also my Chen Cao's seed, not to mention I have Baoguo Gong there." Secretary, I will marry you soon, these are all small things."
Chen Cao didn't want to cry, but the two girls were still crying at this moment, so he simply made up his mind to sneak away: "I just received an urgent report that there is still something going on in the yamen, so there is no delay. I will come back after the matter is settled, and I will leave first. ..”
Chen Cao and Zhao Xin ran out of the gate of Baifu in a panic, and bumped into Xu Kaixian who came to report the news.
"Sir," Xu Kaixian was out of breath: "Something... something happened..."
"What's the matter?"
"Master Li Maohui died of illness in the capital a few days ago. As soon as Tiqi heard the news, he came to report the news non-stop."
"Ah?" Chen Cao was hit one after another and was a little confused. Although he was not very fond of his father-in-law, the old guy was also Li Xiang's father: "Have you told Madam?"
Xu Kaixian said: "After Tiqi reported that Lord Li Maohui died of illness, Lord Zhang Wenda sent someone to follow him. He must have gone to the mansion now."
"You bastard, why didn't you stop him when this happened? Why didn't you come here earlier." Chen Cao was anxious. Li Xiang was still breastfeeding. What if he got sick from this incident?
Xu Kaixian gasped and said: "My subordinates arrived at the military camp first. The camp said that you had gone to Bai Mansion. Just as I was about to leave, Father Tang stopped me and asked my subordinates to believe in religion. I finally got rid of it and came over quickly."
"He's an old man. I'll take care of him later. Follow me back home."
When Chen Cao returned home, the atmosphere was not very good. Seeing Chen Cao, the maid hurriedly reported that Li Xiang had passed out and the doctor was treating him.
"Xiang'er..." Chen Cao didn't care much. He broke into the room and saw Li Xiang lying weakly on the bed: "Xiang'er, are you okay?"
"Husband...ah..." Li Xiang opened his eyes and hugged Chen Cao and cried loudly: "Father...Father, he..."
"I understand. I will leave for the capital tomorrow to take care of things. Don't worry, don't worry..."
Li Xiang cried for nearly an hour, and did not stop until he fell asleep in Chen Cao's arms. Chen Cao walked out of the yard and said to the maid Xiaoxue: "Take good care of Madam, I want to go to Beijing, do you understand?"
Xiaoxue leaned forward and saluted: "Master, go slowly..."
...
Chen Cao took Xu Kaixian and left directly by boat. According to Ming Dynasty rites and filial piety, parents have to go home and observe mourning for three years after their death, but that is only for men. Generally, if there are only women in the family, they can just bury them after they pass away. The reason is that all women are married. He only needed to serve for a hundred days. As an official, Chen Jiao didn't have to pay filial piety to his father-in-law, but he was still his wife, so he had to go there in person, which was completely different from Li Waner's three-year filial piety.
Seven days later, Chen Cao arrived at the Tianjin Yamen. He first reported his work and then explained the purpose of his trip to the capital. Luo Yangxing received Chen Cao embarrassedly, then issued an official document, and it took a day before leaving Tianjin.
Two days later, Chen Cao hurriedly arrived at the gate of Beijing with his people. He entered the city from Zhengyang Gate in the evening and went straight to Li Maohui's house in the capital.
White cloths were laid out around the house, and the old housekeeper who had served Li Maohui all year round was presiding over the funeral. When he saw Chen Cao arriving, he greeted him as if he was seeing a savior.
"Old housekeeper, my father-in-law has always been in good health, why did he suddenly die of illness?" Chen Cao called the housekeeper aside and asked as usual.
The housekeeper said: "My master got seriously ill after the spring. I was going to inform the young lady and my uncle, but I told you not to worry. He said that the young lady was weak after giving birth to a child. But who knew that the master came back from the imperial court at the beginning of this month and suddenly fell ill?" It fell, and then...just...hey..."
The housekeeper wiped away his tears as he spoke. At that moment, the servants reported that someone had come to pay their respects. As the current person in charge of the Li Mansion, Chen Operation went to greet him.
"Yew Chung..." Zhang Wenda felt a little inconvenient: "When did you come?"
The person coming was Zhang Wenda. He had a good relationship with Li Maohui. Chen Cao relied on Zhang Wenda to send people here to help him in the future.
Chen Cao quickly stepped forward to support Zhang Wenda, and then led him to the side hall to sit down: "Uncle Zhang, you have tea..." Chen Cao personally handed the tea to Zhang Wenda.
"Hey..." Zhang Wenda sighed: "What a disaster... What a disaster..."
"Uncle Zhang, does he have something to tell his nephew?" Chen Cao was a little keen.
Zhang Wenda sighed again and said: "It shouldn't be... I am getting old after all, and I am no longer a match for young people. It seems that I, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, have almost become a minister..."
"Uncle Zhang, my nephew is now a high-ranking official in Jinyiwei. If you have anything to say, why not tell your nephew directly? Xiang'er was heartbroken when he heard that his father-in-law died of illness. My nephew thought this matter was not that simple." Chen Cao said seriously.
Zhang Wenda said slowly: "There's nothing wrong. I'm just sighing. Ke Cang and I have been friends for decades, but now he takes the first step to miss our old friend..."
..
"The old guy must have something to hide," Chen Cao stared at Xu Kaixian beside him and said: "The way he hesitates is absolutely correct, just like the last time he presided over the Zhejiang Japanese Rebellion, he asked him what Just all kinds of prevarication, I think the death of my father-in-law is not simple. Lao Xu, please send someone to Beizhen Fusi to find out what happened."
"yes..."
The day after Chen Cao arrived, he ordered people to put a layer of coffin on Li Maohui's coffin, and then sent people directly back to Nanjing for burial, but he himself had to deal with the funeral affairs here.
"Sir," Xu Kaixian returned to Li Mansion with a somewhat mysterious look: "My subordinates have asked."
"Tell me carefully..."
"At the beginning of the month, the imperial censor Yang Chunmao submitted a memorial to the emperor, requesting a thorough investigation into the palace transfer case. This matter involved Li Xuanshi and the emperor himself, so the emperor was furious and reprimanded Yang Chunmao. Then the censor Liu Wei wrote ten memorials, saying that the Donglin Party was here We bear unshirkable responsibility for this matter, and as soon as this matter came out, it was jointly refuted by Zuo Guangdou and Li Yangchong, the censors of Qiandu."
Chen Cao was confused when he heard this: "What does this have to do with my father-in-law?"
"Yes..." Xu Kaixian continued: "Yang Chunmao is a member of the Donglin Party, Liu Wei is a member of the Chu Party, and Mr. Li is... a member of the Chu Party..."
"Impossible?" Chen Cao immediately refuted Xu Kaixian's words: "My father-in-law is close to Zhang Wenda and other old men. Even if my father-in-law is from the Chu Party, how can Zhang Wenda, as the leader of the Donglin Party, refuse to save him?"
"Saved..." Xu Kaixian said seriously: "The brothers from Beizhen Fusi personally arrested the two censors, and Mr. Li was the one who participated in this incident."
Chen Cao frowned immediately: "Who are the leaders of the Chu Party?"
...
"Who?" Zhu Yanrong sneered: "Qi Shijiao, Guan Yingzhen, Wu Liangsi and Zhao Xingbang are just a few of them!"
Chen Cao and Zhu Yanrong sat opposite each other. They were both on the same boat and were comrades in the same trench.
"You are far away in Nanjing and don't know what is happening here in the capital. How could the three parties of Qi, Chu and Zhejiang have controlled the government for so many years at the end of Wanli and let the Donglin Party suffer?" Zhu Yanrong handed over a cup of tea: "Let's put it this way , According to my investigation, Li Maohui was probably used as a gunman."
Chen Cao raised his hand towards Zhu Yanrong and said, "Mr. Baoguo, you still have to help me with this matter."
"You're welcome..." Zhu Yanrong knew Chen Cao's importance to Xu Hongji, not to mention that he had received a lot of benefits from Chen Cao since he cooperated with Chen Cao: "Chen Cao, you and I are in the same boat, I said I wonder if you will tell Wei Zhongxian some things."
Chen Cao was stunned and immediately understood what Zhu Yanrong meant, and said seriously: "My lord, are you still afraid of Wei Zhongxian?"
"Afraid of him?" Zhu Yanrong sneered: "I am a hereditary prince and I have no fault. If Wei Zhongxian dares to cause trouble for me, do you think the nobles in the capital will feel like a rabbit is dead and a fox is sad?"
"Then Mr. Bao Guo, you still ask Chen this question?" Chen Cao asked.
Zhu Yanrong thought it was reasonable and said: "Now Wei Zhongxian is becoming more and more powerful, and he and the Donglin Party are already on a par with each other. In order to be able to influence the government, that old dog keeps wooing non-party officials in the government, and then he can't do it again." Officials from the three parties in Shaoyuan, Qi, Chu and Zhejiang returned to Beijing to take up posts. Qi Shijiao, who had returned to his hometown to retire, heard that he was going to be reinstated as the censor of Qiandu. This was also due to you pulling Li Weihan down in Nanjing..."
Zhu Yanrong's joking tone made Chen Cao speechless: "Even so, who did my father-in-law provoke?"
"Hi..." Zhu Yanrong took a sip of tea: "Your father-in-law's Taipusi Shaoqing has low power. Although he is from Fujian, he was included in the Chu Party. Your father-in-law mentioned it to you without knowing about Concubine Zheng. No, if he hadn't helped Fang Congzhe, the chief assistant at the time, and participated in the case of establishing the crown prince, he wouldn't have been dismissed from office..."
Chen Cao really didn't know about this. Zhu Yanrong continued: "Fang Congzhe recommended his fellow countryman Feng Quan to be the right minister of the Ministry of Rites. Are you afraid that Fang Congzhe has joined Wei Wei?"
Chen Cao was shocked, and immediately remembered what Luo Yangxing had told him when he had just returned from Liaodong a few years ago, and also found out about the contact between Fang Congzhe and Xu Xianchun. Now that he thought about it, Wei Zhongxian had arranged it a long time ago With such a close relationship, it is no wonder that Wei Zhongxian dismissed Luo Yangxing's attachment to the Donglin Party.
Chen Cao couldn't help but lamented that he didn't go to Xu Xianchun for help. That guy was related to Fang Congzhe. Now that he thought about it, it was a wise choice to come to Zhu Yanrong himself.
"So, those people from the Donglin Party will take revenge. Your father-in-law was framed by the Donglin Party on many charges during the Great Dynasty. They used all the bullshit about disrespecting the emperor. The most important thing is that he is your Chen Cao. Father-in-law." Zhu Yanrong couldn't help but want to laugh: "Who doesn't know that you are the master of the capital?"
"Huh..." Chen Cao let out a big breath.
"After the Great Dynasty, I heard that Li Maohui fell ill. I think he must be very angry..." Zhu Yanrong said and patted Chen Cao on the shoulder: "Don't worry, I am a noble and a warrior, and I am with you again." We are on the same boat, and I can help you with everything I can."
Chen Cao felt that he had indeed come to the right place today, so he handed over his hand and said, "May I ask the Duke who in the Donglin Party is framed by the government to frame my father-in-law."
Zhu Yanrong smiled: "Zhao Nanxing, Zuo Guangdou, Yang Lian, a few, oh, by the way, and the old thief Gao Panlong, the right minister of the Ministry of Justice who was just promoted."
"Does the Duke have a grudge against Gao Panlong?" Chen Cao asked curiously.
"You don't know," Zhu Yanrong said angrily: "The old thief said in court that I not only supervised the Beijing camp but also the Shenji camp, saying that it was against the ancestral system and asked the emperor to remove a position. He is a bastard. Did I mess with him?"
It was rare for Chen Cao to see him swearing, so he nodded knowingly: "You know it's my father-in-law, why do you let him take the lead?"
"I told you that he might have been used as a gun," Zhu Yanrong breathed a sigh of relief: "Li Maohui has a very good reputation for integrity. I think Wei Zhongxian took a fancy to this, but why did the Donglin Party retaliate against Li Maohui alone? Tsk. ..I can’t even understand the joints.”
...
After Chen Cao left the Baoguo Palace, he went to Bada Hutong to go whoring with a prostitute to relieve the pressure in his heart. In the private room, Chen Cao, who was eating, put down his chopsticks and looked at Xu Kaixian and said: "Tomorrow, I will go find the people from Beizhen Fusi. I want the detailed resumes of Zhao Nanxing, Zuo Guangdou, Yang Lian, Gao Panlong, and by the way, the imperial censors Liu Wei and Yang Maochun, and I want to find out everything about Gao Panlong."
"Yes..." Xu Kaixian responded: "But sir, when we go to Beijing from the beginning, apart from attending to the funeral, we will report on our duties. We can stay at most three days, otherwise we will be leaving our posts without permission."
"I know," Chen Cao looked at the dishes on the table nonchalantly: "After all, he is my father-in-law. It seems that Wei Zhongxian is really his cunning, and it is purely intentional."
"Sir, it's better if we don't participate," Xu Kaixian reminded: "The officialdom in the capital is too deep. This is what you said before, my lord. If you are involved now, it's better to get out. If you can't get out... ."
Before he finished speaking, the door to the room was opened, and the person who came was none other than Xu Xianchun.
Chen Cao stood up, changed his expression and received the eunuch's number one thug in a warm manner: "Master Xu, it's a pleasure to meet you..."
Xu Xianchun also knew the weight in Chen Cao and Wei Zhongxian's heart. The two were comrades on the same front, and they had received a lot of money from Chen Cao before. He also looked at Chen Cao with a smile: "Yaozhong, you are not authentic, come here The capital didn’t even say anything about coming to my house to sit, so why do you look down on the food in my house?”
"My lord, you are joking." Chen Cao asked Xu Kai to stand up first, and then welcomed Xu Xianchun to sit down on the main seat: "My father-in-law passed away due to illness. I came to attend the funeral and report on my work. I will go back in a few days."
Xu Xianchun pointed at Chen Cao with a smile and said: "We are both working for Eunuch Wei, so there is no need to be polite between you and me... Hahaha..."
Chen Cao also laughed and heard Xu Xianchun say in a serious tone: "Master Li's dead father-in-law asked me to take his place and help you with YCIS."
"Sir, you must not..."
Xu Xianchun pulled Chen Cao to sit next to him, interrupted Chen Cao and said: "Hey, listen to me, I really didn't know how this matter would develop. Then Li Yangchong made all kinds of provocations at the court meeting. If it were me, We have already taken action. I think Mr. Li fell ill because of this." He poured a glass of wine to Chen Cao and said, "My father-in-law is very ashamed. Let you relax and see what my father-in-law does. By the way, when will you do it? Leaving Beijing?"
"Three days later." Chen Cao took the wine glass and said.
"Just in time," Xu Xianchun said with a foreign look on his face: "Tomorrow during the imperial court, you and I will go to the Gate of Supreme Harmony to listen to the court and see how those people perform. After that, you have to help me with a big event. Just in time. It allows you to avenge your father-in-law."
Chen Cao put down his wine glass and asked mysteriously: "What's the matter?"
Xu Xianchun signaled his subordinates to go out and guard the door, then approached Chen Cao and whispered: "Once this incident comes out, it will shake the world. The Donglin Party will shed a layer of skin until it dies, and Ye Xianggao's position as chief minister will also be over... ..”
