Imperial City.
The moon is bright and the stars are sparse.
Xiao Jing rubbed her hands and stood alone at the door of Fengtian Hall.
He was originally a small eunuch working in the Baochao Bureau. Because he knew a few words, he was valued by Wu Jixiang, the eunuch next to Zhu Yuanzhang, and he was immediately transferred to Fengtian Palace to serve the emperor.
Although being able to serve the emperor up close is the biggest dream of every eunuch.
It can be said that it is the second step towards rapid success and glorious ancestors.
As for what the first step is, I think about it...
Xiao Jing felt a little regretful at this moment. The curses coming from time to time in the hall made him tremble with fear, fearing that he would kill the two people inside if they were unhappy.
He couldn't help but shrink back and take two steps back, so that the door of Fengtian Palace would block him and prevent him from being noticed by the two masters inside.
He twisted his sore neck slightly, but saw a figure walking towards the main hall surrounded by several palace ladies.
Being able to bring the maid to Fengtian Palace in the palace at night, Xiao Jing guessed who the visitor was right away.
She was the woman who was loved by the imperial palace and even the entire Ming Dynasty.
This woman is frugal, this woman is generous, this woman is tolerant, this woman is kind to others, she is like the sunshine in winter, warming people's hearts.
Although he had seen this kind and gentle queen more than once, this was the first time he had close contact with Queen Ma. He quickly bowed and saluted: "My slave, I pay my respects to the Queen."
Empress Ma waved her hands very gently, and said with a soft smile: "Get up, I see you look familiar, but why have I never seen you in Fengtian Palace before, but you were transferred elsewhere?"
This woman is like this. She always remembers everyone in the palace, even the little eunuchs she has met once, which makes people feel warm and want to cry.
Humph, this bad woman!
Xiao Jing was so excited that her voice was choked with sobs, and she respectfully replied: "Reporting to your Majesty, my servant Xiao Jing was originally a eunuch of the Baochao Department. He once delivered papers to your Majesty, and today I have just been transferred to the Fengtian Palace to serve Your Majesty."
"I see, why do I think you look familiar?" Queen Ma said with a smile: "I saw that you were curled up just now, but you were a little cold. It's not day at night, so you should put on more clothes when you are on duty. !”
Queen Ma's words made Xiao Jing feel warm in her heart, her eyes were slightly red, and there were faint tears left.
Since he came to the palace, no one has cared about whether he is well fed and warmly dressed, except for Wu Jixiang, whom he met recently.
After hearing that he had been transferred to the Fengtian Palace to serve the emperor, his former companions wanted to eat him.
How can we talk about warmth in a place like this!
"Slave, thank you so much, slave, really, slave, I'm not cold..." Xiao Jing was so choked that she could hardly speak.
Empress Ma was not surprised when she saw this. Instead, she said gently to the palace maid behind her: "My parents gave me my life. Being a father-in-law in the palace is already a hard life, but we can't be cold and hungry, Yu'er. Go back and ask the Garment Bureau to prepare two thick clothes and put them in the squad room where they are on duty. Don’t forget to put them on at night!"
"Yes, Your Majesty." Yu'er, the eldest palace maid waiting behind her, replied with a smile.
Xiao Jing wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, knelt down and said solemnly: "Your Majesty is kind, your mother cares about the world, and your mind is as big as the sea. It is your blessing for me to meet such a master. I, the eunuchs on duty, wish your Majesty a long life!" "
"Okay, okay, I accept your thanks!"
Queen Ma smiled and took Yu'er into Fengtian Hall without saying anything more.
To her, this may be a trivial matter, but to Xiao Jing, it is a huge kindness.
What the little eunuchs in the palace like most is to have a godfather and godmother, which can be regarded as finding a supporter for themselves.
Looking at the back figure entering the palace, Xiao Jing had a vague feeling that her godmother should look like this.
The interior of Fengtian Hall was dimly lit by candlelight.
Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Biao and his son are burying their heads in the documents, dealing with the endless memorials.
Wu Jixiang had already heard the sound of Queen Ma's arrival and was about to bow to salute, but was stopped by Queen Ma's wave.
Looking at the lonely burning butter candle on the table between the father and son, Empress Ma couldn't help but smile bitterly.
This emperor of my own is really frugal to the extreme.
Not even willing to light a few more candles.
If the moonlight wasn't enough to read the writing on the memorial, I'm afraid the emperor would have saved all the candles.
He ordered Yu'er beside him to get a fire stick and light all the candles standing on both sides of the hall. Suddenly the entire Fengtian Hall became bright.
The light of the candle came from the corner of his eyes, which made Lao Zhu very angry.
Who, who lit our candle, didn’t know that candles cost money!
Lao Zhu was so angry that he raised his head and was about to curse, but when he saw it was Queen Ma, he immediately put on a smile.
"Sister, you're here!"
Looking at the playful and smiling face of Lao Zhu, Empress Ma shook her head helplessly and said with a smile: "Chongba, do you really have to keep these two candles? What if you hurt your eyes!"
Lao Zhu chuckled: "It won't get bad, it won't get bad. Even if it gets bad, there will be a girl to take care of us. What should we be afraid of!"
Queen Ma glared at Lao Zhu speechlessly: "Who said anything about you? I said it!"
Lao Zhu's smile froze, and he turned to look at his son who was still fascinated by the memorial, as if he were detached.
snort!
We are jealous.
"Sister, why are you here so late!" When he looked back at Queen Ma, Lao Zhu put on a smile again.
"Knowing that you are still reviewing the memorial, I cooked two bowls of millet porridge and brought them to warm you up!" Empress Ma said with a smile, then waved her hand and ordered Yu'er behind her to bring up the food box.
Yu'er behind her said with a smile: "Your Majesty, my Majesty made this by herself. I know you like it thicker, so I stayed up for half an hour."
"Oh!" Lao Zhu was overjoyed: "Then we'll have a taste. Come on, Yu'er, bring it over to us."
After that, he said to Prince Zhu Biao: "Biao'er, don't be busy. After finishing your porridge, go back to the East Palace with the memorial and continue reviewing!"
Who knows, Lao Zhu just finished speaking.
Zhu Biao suddenly threw the memorial in his hand to the ground, and cursed: "Bastards, a bunch of bastards, the people cursed, the censor impeached one after another, the army and horse department are all poor people, they are a bunch of bastards."
Lao Zhu was startled by this sudden appearance and almost threw the tea cup out of his hand.
"My Di'er, what's happening, what's happening, don't be angry, don't be angry. If you get angry, you'll need medicine!"
"Medicine costs money!"
"Although we are not willing to spend that little money, we can save it if we can!"
"..."
Queen Ma glared at Lao Zhu angrily.
Lao Zhu shut his mouth with a look.
Prince Zhu Biao also reacted at this moment. When he saw Queen Ma looking at him, he quickly stood up and saluted: "Mother, I have lost my temper."
Queen Ma frowned and looked at Zhu Biao doubtfully.
He knew the temper of Prince Zhu Biao, and he would not be so angry easily. What exactly was written in the memorial that made him so angry?
"Biao'er, what happened in the court?"
Zhu Biao snorted coldly, bent down and picked up the memorial on the ground: "Mother, father, it is still because of the affairs of the Department of Soldiers and Horses."
"Military and Horse Division?" Queen Ma muttered.
The Military and Horse Division is responsible for patrolling thieves, clearing streets and ditches, prison management, fire bans, etc. in Nanjing City. It is divided into east, west, south, north, and middle. These are the so-called "Five Cities", and each city has a commander. There is one person, four deputy commanders, and troops and horses, similar to the Comprehensive Law Enforcement Bureau and the Municipal Public Security Bureau in the rear view. In the 23rd year of Hongwu, Lao Zhu officially named it the Five City Soldiers and Horses Division. (For convenience later, I called Lao Zhu in advance.)
Empress Ma naturally knew about the Five Cities Military and Horse Department, but what she didn't understand was how this department, which was similar to the "big housekeeper" of Nanjing City, had provoked her son.
Zhu Shou said in a low tone: "Mother, on the streets of Nanjing, there are many gang fights and thefts among the people. These things were originally the responsibility of the Fifth Army Governor's Office, but now the Five Cities Army and Horses Division is not doing things well, which has caused complaints from the people. The imperial censor Yan Guan was impeached many times, and I sent people to talk to them several times. Each time, they used the excuse that they were short of manpower and hoped that the court could allocate more money and food. Didn't I know that the soldiers and horses department was short of manpower? But if we don’t have enough manpower, we won’t be able to do things. Then why does the court support these people? They are a bunch of bastards. Now I wish I could recruit this bastard Chang Sheng to come over and kick him.”
After hearing this, Lao Zhu turned his head silently, not looking at his wife and son...
Zhu Biao's words were on the surface to criticize the Wucheng Army and Horses Division, but in fact they were slapping him, the emperor, in the face.
Who doesn't know that he, the emperor, is very stingy towards officials. If he can give a salary of ten coins, he will definitely find a reason to give it eight coins.
When the Wucheng Army and Horse Division originally agreed on the money, food and salary, it was directly decided by him as the emperor.
There may have been enough money and food at that time, but with the increasing population of Nanjing, the manpower of the Five Cities Military and Horse Division has become increasingly scarce. He applied for department funds many times, but without exception, he was rejected by Lao Zhu, and then he The matter was left to Zhu Biao.
As for the official position of Chang Sheng in the Wucheng Military and Horse Division, Zhu Biao had just appointed him a few days ago.
Now Lao Zhu made up his mind that Chang Sheng could only be wronged by this scapegoat.
"What Biao'er said is absolutely true. We've also heard that this bastard Chang Mao trains troops every day. The Five Cities Soldiers and Horses Division..."
Lao Zhu did not continue, because he found that his son's eyes were a bit strange, and he silently retracted his head.
At this time, Zhu Biao also belonged to the category of a clever woman who cannot make a meal without rice.
Lao Zhu intends to send troops to attack Annan in the second half of the year. If he wants him to come up with money and food now, it will be even more difficult.
As for Chang Sheng, he was even more of a poor man, not much better than himself.
It seems that the father is planning to pretend to be dead, and he will definitely not be able to get the money.
We still need to find a way to deal with the Five Cities Soldiers and Horses Division!
Queen Ma knew what was going on just by looking at Lao Zhu's face.
He gave a helpless smile and said: "Yu'er, I will give the prince thirty thousand taels of silver from the internal funds in a moment to deal with the emergency. As for the money and food for the Five Cities Soldiers and Horses Division, we will discuss it after the conquest of Annan."
Queen Ma's words almost sealed the matter.
Lao Zhu was not happy.
"Hey, sister, how can this be done? How can this be done? The money in the internal funds belongs to our own family. We can let this bastard Chang Sheng figure out a solution for the matter of the Five Cities Soldiers and Horses Division. , train all day long, don’t ruin your brain..."
"The Ming Dynasty is yours too!" Queen Ma said, killing Lao Zhu.
"Okay, this matter is settled. You can eat your porridge. I'm going back. Biao'er, you should also go back early to rest. There are always endless things to deal with."
"Congratulations to your mother!" Zhu Biao said happily.
Lao Zhu stared at his son, feeling that his heart ached.
The little money I managed to save.
Flying...
