Chapter 105 Harmonious Society
"Master Zou, there is no need to be restrained, you and I are our own people."
When Zou Weilian and Chen Cao first started to deal with each other, the other party was just a member of the Jin Yiwei Guards, but now he is a nobleman of the Ming Dynasty when they meet again.
"Uncle, you are so polite," Zou Weilian said a little embarrassedly, "How can I let my uncle treat me to dinner?"
Chen Cao personally poured a glass of wine for Zou Weilian, and then said with a smile: "You don't have to be afraid. I invite you to dinner to congratulate you."
Zou Weilian's eyes lit up, but he didn't dare to show it, so he asked tentatively: "I don't know if there is anything I can do that I can personally congratulate."
Chen Cao liked this guy from the bottom of his heart, and it was the best thing to use him as a gunman: "Brother Zou, since you helped me last time, you have been suppressed by people from the Ministry of War, and my uncle also knows about your The situation, no, the news came back from the capital a few days ago, and I used my mediation to help you find a real vacancy for the right counselor in the general affairs department of the capital. I wonder what Mr. Zou wants?"
Zou Weilian was stunned for a moment, then immediately stood up, saluted Chen Cao in a standard manner, bowed and said, "Thank you for your promotion."
Chen Cao was very fortunate to have captured Zou Weilian before he completely entered the Donglin Party. He nodded with a smile and said, "Brother Zou, you don't have to be polite. You and I are our own."
"One of my own...one of my own..." Zou Weilian said repeatedly: "I have Uncle Meng's support. I will definitely follow Uncle Meng's guidance in the future."
Chen Cao asked him to sit down, and then asked Zhao Xin to bring the things he had prepared: "I know that you don't have much money, so I have given you thirty thousand taels as a courtesy, so that you can buy a house in the capital to live in. You will have a lot of money in the future." If you have any difficulties, just ask the local Jinyiwei to investigate and inform me."
Zou Weilian raised his hands and saluted again: "I am very grateful... I am very grateful... After my uncle arrives in Beijing, if you have any instructions, please tell me, and I will do my best to do it."
"Okay, okay..." Chen Cao reached out and pressed Zou Weilian's hand, and then said with a smile: "Such a harmonious society is a good time for people like you and me to develop our skills..."
...
"My uncle is so generous. A mere Zou Weilian only spent thirty thousand taels..." After sending Zou Weilian away, Zhao Xin came back and said with a smile.
Chen Cao put the dish into his mouth, shook his head and said: "His value is not 30,000 taels, but 300,000 taels anyway. It is better to bribe him now than to fight against us in the future."
"By the way, uncle, something big happened in the capital a few days ago." Xin Zhao picked up the vegetables and started eating.
"Is it the last time the imperial court said it wanted to impeach me?" Chen Cao put down his chopsticks and asked.
Zhao Xin nodded: "No, the Donglin Party united more than 300 officials in Beijing. At that time, the dynasty was headed by Gu Dazhang, a member of the Ministry of Justice..."
"Who? Gu Dazhang?" Chen Cao interrupted Zhao Xin.
Xin Zhao nodded: "Yes, Gu Lin, who had offended my uncle before, is his father."
"Go on," Chen Cao said thoughtfully.
"When I was writing the memorial, I presented to the emperor Eunuch Wei's memorial of "The Ten Crimes of Impeachment of Wei Zhongxian". Hey," Zhao Xin said like a storyteller: "I heard from my brothers in the capital that Eunuch Wei was shaking with anger. My pants are soaked..."
Originating from the ancient castration technology, eunuchs would leak urine due to imperfect technology after purification. Therefore, eunuchs would put a piece of cloth like a women's menstrual belt under their legs when they were on duty, which was called "pants" , this is also done to prevent the emperor or concubines from smelling urine after wet pants. Even so, a eunuch must change his pants at least four times a day to be considered clean, otherwise there will be a strange smell.
A high-ranking eunuch like Wei Zhongxian usually needs to change his pants every one to two hours.
"They are quite courageous..." Chen Cao admired these so-called elites from the bottom of his heart.
Xin Zhao put down his chopsticks: "The emperor was angry at that time, and then big news came out..."
Chen Cao glanced sideways at Xin Zhao: "Have you forgotten that I don't like to show off?"
Zhao Xin was excited: "The Jin Yiwei verified that Gu Dazhang was involved in many civil unrest in Zhejiang. The next day Zhang Woxu came forward to defend him, but he was captured by the Jin Yiwei. No, the two of them have been arrested and imprisoned in Beisi. Whether he can come out or not is a big question mark, uncle, should we take advantage of now and pocket all the remaining assets of Zhang Woxu in Zhejiang?"
"It's a good suggestion, but don't forget that they are mainly targeting Wei Zhongxian and I. With Old Wei standing in front of us, we can't cause trouble. Without his asking for this money, we must not make a move, otherwise we will offend him. Hehe ..." Chen Cao felt as he said that he was indeed a little smart.
But what he said next surprised Chen Cao.
Zhao Xin whispered: "I heard from the brothers in the Bei Division that the renovation of the three main halls is coming to an end due to financial matters, and the emperor is going to give Wei Liangqing, who has spent the most money this time, a title..."
"Wei Liangqing?" Chen Cao frowned.
Xin Zhao nodded: "Wei Zhongxian's nephew, I heard that he is at least above the Marquis."
"Old Wei is smart..." Chen Cao thought in his heart: "The old eunuch gave all the money I gave him to Wei Liangqing, and then let Wei Liangqing reap the benefits. It's a good trick."
"So my subordinates said that uncle gave Zou Weilian too much money." Zhao Xin said once.
"Xin Zhao, in your name, send another thirty thousand taels to Zou Weilian, go..."
"ah..."
...
"What kind of wind can bring Lord Marquis to my little brother?" Chen Cao welcomed Pu Xiang, who came to visit, into his house with a smile.
In the study, Pu Xiang handed a folded letter to Chen Cao: "Brother, you don't have to be polite. You and I have had a good relationship since the day we met. Don't forget that your first book as a brother was spent on me. Big price..."
"Hahaha..." Chen Cao raised his head and laughed, then picked up the teacup and said, "In that case, I would like to thank Brother Pu for taking care of me."
After speaking, Chen Cao was delighted when he opened it and read it. Then he folded the letter and placed it next to the desk. When Brother Pu saw this, he leaned close to his head and asked mysteriously: "I thought your hobbies were different, brother. Now it seems that it is really good." of..."
Chen Cao knew that Pu Xiang was teasing him, so he stopped pretending and said with a smile: "Although a woman of fifteen or sixteen years old gets married, I don't know if Brother Pu has noticed that after a woman turns eighteen, her figure is getting better and better. Compared with Even better at fifteen or sixteen."
"I know... I know..." Pu Xiang smiled a little lewdly: "So since last year, as a brother, I have also tried some older ones, and the taste is really different..."
"Hahaha..." Chen Cao really thought Pu Xiang was funny, so he shook his head: "Brother Pu...you..."
Pu Xiang also laughed, and then became serious: "Shen Zhuangling is the wife of a cousin of the Mu family. After her husband died, she was sent to Nanjing by the Mu family. What do you think about the Shen family's attachment to the Mu family in Yunnan? clear?"
Following Pu Xiang's rigor, Chen Cao also became serious, nodded and said: "I know this, so I went to see Mu Qilin to see if he had the guts, but I really couldn't believe it, it was Brother Pu who delivered the document. You come?"
Pu Xiang was a little embarrassed: "To be honest, my ancestors were once under the command of King Qianning. My family was able to regain the title only with the help of the Duke of Guizhou."
Pu Xiang's relationship directly shows that he is from the Mu family, but the fact that he can deliver the documents in person also proves that this guy has a normal relationship with Mu Qiyuan.
"Brother Pu, we're already here, why don't we open the skylight and speak openly?" Chen Cao poured tea into Pu Xiang's cup: "Do you support Mu Qilin?"
After Pu Xiang finished speaking, he smiled awkwardly, and then felt a little embarrassed: "It's okay if you don't support me. Mu Qilin and I are related by marriage..."
"Oh, there is still such a relationship? Why?" Chen Cao was curious.
"My mother's sister is Mu Qilin's mother..." Pu Xiang said with a grin.
"No wonder..." Chen Cao then smiled and said, "Let me tell you, how could a coward like Duke Qian help restore the title of Brother Pu's family?"
After saying this, Chen Cao became serious: "Brother Pu must also know that Mu Qiyuan has committed too many violations of the law in Yunnan. The local Jinyiwei's detectives have confirmed his behavior. Moreover, there are now direct participants from the Yunnan patrol. Hey, at that time, hehe..."
Pu Xiang also nodded thoughtfully: "Brother Chen, I hope you can help me in the future..."
"Easy to say..." Chen Cao nodded cheerfully: "Whether Mu Qilin can become the next Duke of Guizhou depends on his actions and fortune. I can only help him behind the scenes."
Pu Xiang nodded thoughtfully, then raised his head and said, "Brother, I understand. I will tell him when I get back. I hope you can help me in the capital."
"I know, I know..." Chen Cao nodded repeatedly.
Just when Chen Cao was about to serve tea to see off the guests, Pu Xiang became mysterious again, lowered his head and said to Chen Cao: "Brother, because I know your preferences, I specially sent people from Suzhou and Hangzhou to find them for you. She is a beautiful woman with a good voice. If nothing else, this is my brother's wish, you must accept it."
Chen Cao quickly shook his head: "Forget it, you don't know. My wife was talking to me about this matter back then. Now that Shen Zhuangling's redemption document is in my hand, I will have to worry about it later. How can I explain to my family..."
"Haha..." Pu Xiang laughed when he heard this, and then said: "I almost forgot, I heard that brother, you want to protect Shen Zhuang Ling's daughter?"
Chen Cao nodded: "I promised Shen Lingmin to Shen Zhuangling. Brother Pu must take this matter seriously and get it done as soon as possible, otherwise..."
Mu Qiyuan's lustful nature is well known in Yunnan.
Pu Xiang nodded: "I know, I will do this after I leave later."
Chen Cao stood up and held up his hands: "Then I'll bother Brother Pu..."
Pu Xiang knew what was going on and knew that Chen Cao was seeing off the guests, so he stood up and handed over his hands. After a few polite words, Pu Xiang turned and left.
"Uncle..." Zhang Fengnian sent Pu Xiang away in person, turned to Chen Cao and said, "The Marquis of Jinshan left the woman he brought outside the palace gate."
"Ah?" Chen Cao thought for a while, thinking that it would be bad if there were people outside the door. Li Xiang and a group of female relatives were walking around and flying kites on the edge of their fields. It wouldn't be good to see them when they came back, so he walked out: "Forget it, this guy. I'll go take a look, you go get some money and send them to them later."
